Hearts announce squad to play twenty20 and one day finals

Hearts announce squad to play twenty20 and one day finals

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

The Auckland Hearts have announced the same 12 players that knocked over the Northern Spirit in a dramatic victory earlier in the week to face the Canterbury Magicians in the Action Cricket Twenty20 and Action Cricket Cup finals this weekend.

The one day final will be played at Rangiora on Saturday January 14th and the twenty20 final is part of a double bill with the Wizards HRV Cup game against the Firebirds on Sunday January 15th.

The Hearts spot in both finals is a far cry from their fifth place finishing positions of last season and co-coach Maia Lewis puts that down to a number of things.

"Obviously the introduction of Stafanie Taylor has been a huge boost. She's really produced with both bat and ball and that innings against ND was something special. I think also that the introduction of Katrina Keenan as co-coach has brought renewed enthusiasm and she's done great work with the pace bowlers, as well as helping the whole team with the mental side of the game and their self-belief."

The Hearts have a real sprinkling of youth this season and Lewis credits them in contributing to the Hearts success so far.

"The younger players, especially Lauren Down and Georgia Guy, have come in and made big contributions and also made some real competition for places which I think has lifted the team performance."

Canterbury have been the form team this season and go into both finals without having lost a game. Lewis grants that the southerners must go in as favourites but says that it won't be having an effect on her side.

"To be honest we're going in with a 'nothing to lose' attitude, our form heading into these games is really good, especially in the twenty20 format, and they're both one off games so the opportunity is there for us to take."

The Auckland Hearts squad for the Action Cricket Twenty20 and Action Cricket Cup finals this weekend is as follows:

Victoria Lind (Capt) (Ellerslie)
Katie Perkins (VC) (Cornwall)
Saskia Bullen (Ellerslie)
Megan Tremaine (Papatoetoe)
Paula Gruber (Grafton United)
Lauren Down (East Coast Bays)
Holly Huddleston (Papatoetoe)
Maddie Green (Cornwall)
Georgia Guy (Cornwall)
Samantha Curtis (Waitakere City)
Arlene Kelly (Papatoetoe)
Stafanie Taylor (Overseas Player)

ENDS

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