Hansen thrilled to make side

TOP TRIP: All-rounder Melissa Hansen, heading to the World Cup tourney in Wellington. PHOTOS/SUZANNEOLIVER

Wairarapa College cricket all-rounder Melissa Hansen has been named in the New Zealand under-20 women's indoor cricket team to compete at the World Cup tournament in Wellington in October.

The Year 13 prefect is thrilled to have made the side and is looking forward to playing against what will be top quality international opposition.

Hansen is captain of the Wairarapa College 1st XI and is also a member of the Wellington senior women's indoor squad.

The national indoor under-20 side was read out at the prize-giving ceremony for the national provincial tournament, during which Hansen was part of the Wellington team.

A total of 12 players were named, with eight players playing at any one time. New Zealand will also be represented by senior men's and women's teams, along with the men's under-20 combination.

Hansen describes indoor cricket as a "very fast" game, played in a confined space, with each match taking under two hours to complete.

Every team member bats for four overs and bowls for two.

Training camps in Wellington are part of the build-up to the World Cup and Hansen will continue to hone her skills in Masterton by playing in a men's indoor team here.

She has had to raise $3000 to compete in the World Cup tournament and, along with a good group of supporters, has been organising raffles and selling firewood, while her grandmother held a fundraising lunch.

She is also "very grateful" for a substantial grant given to her by the Wairarapa Sports Education Trust.

Hansen has also starred in outdoor cricket - having represented the Central Hinds at the top inter-association level - and her long-term goal is to make the national women's team there, the White Ferns. Next year she intends to study at the University of Waikato in their sports and leisure department, and she has hopes of earning herself a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship.

Also on the radar is heading to England to spend time playing county cricket during their summer.