Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
This season’s Zone 2 Hawke Cup Challenge, originally scheduled to begin this Friday in Rangiora, has been postponed in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Zone 2 qualifier Hawke’s Bay had been scheduled to challenge holder Canterbury Country before the cyclone severely impacted the Hawke’s Bay region, last week.
New Zealand Cricket Head of Community Cricket, Kent Stead said NZC and Canterbury Country Cricket Association had no hesitation in supporting Hawke’s Bay’s request for a postponement in the wake of the disaster.
“Our thoughts are with the Hawke’s Bay Cricket community after the devastating floods, and we will revisit the scheduling of the Zone 2 Challenge Match at an appropriate time.”
The winner of that match was due to host Zone 1 qualifier Waikato Valley from 10-12 March in the final Challenge Match of the season.
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The Zone 1 Challenge will also be rescheduled, with details to be advised.
This season is the first time in Hawke Cup history that Waikato Valley has won the right to make a Hawke Cup Challenge.
Waikato Valley was formed in 2003, a result of an amalgamation between the areas formerly represented by Thames Valley Cricket and Midlands Cricket.
It covers a rural swathe in the greater Waikato region, including the towns of Cambridge, Morrinsville, Matamata, Te Kauwhata, Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula, Waihi, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Taumaranui and Mangakino.
2022/23 HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
27-29 January 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country retained the Hawke Cup against Zone 3 challenger Nelson at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
10-12 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country retained the Hawke Cup v Zone 4 Challenger Otago Country at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
24-26 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 2 Challenger, 2022/23 Furlong Cup winner Hawke’s Bay
Challenge postponed due to Cyclone Gabrielle, new dates to be advised
10-12 March 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 1 Challenger Waikato Valley
New details to be advised
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
