Key players could miss crucial match

Wairarapa could be without two of their key players for the first of their Hawke Cup elimination cricket matches against Wanganui at Wanganui on November 19 and 20.

Skipper Greg Todd is likely to have commitments with the Central Stags while Dean Van Deventer is playing his club cricket in Canterbury and may not return north for the game.

Both Todd and Van Deventer featured prominently in Wairarapa's Cave Cup success in the interprovincial limited-overs tournament in Napier last weekend.

Todd was the leading scorer (90 not out) and leading wicket-taker (3-45) in the 95-run win over Wanganui while the final against Marlborough, won by Wairarapa by six wickets, saw him take 2-16 and score 17 not out.

Van Deventer had scant opportunity to make an impact with the bat but was impressive with the new ball, taking 1-12 from six overs against Wanganui and 2-39 from eight overs against Marlborough.

Wairarapa selector-coach Mark Brown admits the loss of Todd and Van Deventer would be a blow but said it was something which was always on the cards.

"Obviously we'd like to think they will be with us but players of their calibre are always going to be difficult to retain," he said.

Brown is delighted, however, Netherlands skipper Peter Borren, who made his debut for Wairarapa at the Cave Cup tourney, will be available for selection through until the end of January.

Borren's only appearance at the batting crease produced a quick fire 62 from 64 balls against Wanganui and he opened the bowling in both matches, taking 2-40 off 10 overs against Wanganui and 2-25 from 5.1 overs against Marlborough.

Further welcome news for Wairarapa is that allrounder Daniel Ingham is about to return to the fold after concluding this year's studies at Otago University. He was a steady performer on the representative front with both bat and ball in 2010.

Pleasing, too, was the manner in which Rathkeale College medium pacer Ben Foster stepped up to the mark at the Cave Cup tourney. He put down 11 overs in all and finished with 3-37.

Encouraging as well was the return from injury of Sam Curtis, who batted at first drop against Wanganui and faced 14 balls being caught behind for six.

He has been the region's most prolific-scoring batsmen in recent seasons and, providing his body holds up, will certainly add strength to the top order.