Cricket: Munro happy to play his natural game

Colin Munro finds his style is suited to the shorter version of the game. Photo / Getty Images

Colin Munro could have been forgiven for being twitchy about his longevity in the Auckland T20 side after the first two rounds this month.

The hard-hitting lefthander made a three-ball duck against Central Districts, and was then run out without facing a ball against Northern Districts.

"I was pretty surprised to be selected again so I thought I just have to make the most of it," the 23-year-old said yesterday ahead of Auckland's HRV Cup double header weekend at Colin Maiden Park, winless Otago today and Wellington tomorrow.

He went in with Auckland 55 for four in just the sixth over against Otago at Invercargill and belligerently took the attack apart, clubbing 66 not out in 48 balls, with six fours and four sixes to steer Auckland to victory.

He followed that with 33 off 16 balls against Canterbury in a one-run win in Christchurch before hitting an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls in the win in the dark against Wellington at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.

Those three innings have brought Munro 124 runs off 77 balls and he's enjoying having a relatively free rein.

"Everyone in the batting lineup has been told to go out and play their natural game," he said. "If the ball is in your zone go for it."

The Durban-born Munro came to New Zealand at 15, played youth internationals but after six uneventful first-class games in the 2006-07 season dropped out of representative sight for two summers.

Feeling the need for a change of environment, Munro headed to Adelaide last season, played at the West Torrens club and returned invigorated.

"I wanted to learn a little more about my game, play in different conditions, get away and put a bit of pressure on myself," he said.

"Before I went away I was just a guy who'd come in and try and smash it from ball one. That taught me to try and build an innings, concentrate on each ball rather than looking at the overall picture."

With national team members returning from this weekend, Munro is keen to hold his place and build on what he has managed.

Then there's the one-day competition running through January, where Munro hopes to make an impact, too. The shorter versions suit his game ideally.

The vibes are good within the Auckland squad. They've won four of their five games, including a couple which on other days might not have gone their way.

"We've got a good team environment going. Everyone believes in everyone else's ability," Munrosaid.

Auckland have trimmed their squad to play Otago by one, omitting Jimmy Neesham.

Allrounder Colin de Grandhomme passed a fitness test on his sore ankle.

In tomorrow's other games, Canterbury host CD in Christchurch while ND play Otago at Mt Maunganui.

HRV CUP

Auckland v Otago, Colin Maiden Park, 2pm today

Auckland: (from) Gareth Hopkins (c), Jimmy Adams, Martin Guptill, Lou Vincent, Anaru Kitchen, Dusan Hakaraia, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Ronnie Hira, Michael Bates, Chris Martin.

Otago: (from) Craig Cumming (c), Aaron Redmond, Darren Stevens, Chris Nash, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Nick Beard, Ian Butler, Iain Robertson, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.