Pitch seen as Wairarapa key

Wairarapa skipper Sam Curtis says the Queen Elizabeth Park Oval pitch could have a big say in the outcome of his side's crucial Hawke Cup qualifying match with Wanganui in Masterton.
An outright win could see Wairarapa earn a cup challenge and Curtis admits to being a "little nervous" about the condition of a wicket that has tended to provide a variable bounce during the limited number of club and representative games played there this season.
"Ideally, you want a wicket which has enough life in it early to assist the pacemen and a true enough bounce to keep the guesswork out of batting but, quite honestly, the chances are we won't get that," Curtis said. "It'll probably be slowish and the bounce will be hard to gauge, that's the way it has been going."
With question marks over the pitch and Wairarapa needing to start strongly if they are to push hard for an outright win, Curtis is still to decide what option he will take if the toss goes his way.
In their innings and 123-run win secured over Horowhenua-Kapiti in their latest Hawke Cup fixture, Curtis elected to bowl first but while that tactic worked well then he knows Wanganui will pose a more formidable threat, especially in the batting department.
"Maybe we need to bat first ourselves this time and look to score enough runs to give us time to bowl them out twice and then there's the weather, you have to take that into account too. Right now I couldn't say what we will be doing."
Whatever happens at the toss, however, Curtis is convinced what he labels a "very well balanced" Wairarapa team have the potential to achieve the result they want and he will be encouraging his players to take an aggressive mindset into the game. "It's all about self-belief, we have to go out there believing we are the best team and then play like we are."
On the administrative front, Curtis, who is cricket co-ordinator for the Wairarapa association, is looking forward to the inaugural Trev's Sports "Super 8s Big Bash" competition to be played over four nights, beginning on February 23.
Four teams have entered and they will each contain eight players, none of whom are allowed to have repped for Wairarapa at senior level this season.
The rules for the "Big Bash" are very similar to those for indoor cricket with players batting in pairs for four overs and bowling two overs each. All games will be played at the Park Sportsground.