Most of the team which beat India during the week in a four-day match will appear again in the two innings 10-over-a-side encounter. However, several changes have been made to the squad with the inclusion of limited-over specialists Craig Findlay, Lance Hamilton, Glen Sulzberger, and David Kelly.
Canterbury beat Central Districts when the teams met in the round-robin contest but Central then was without leading players Craig Spearman, in fine form against India, Andrew Penn and Mathew Sinclair, who were playing Conference cricket. Canterbury was without its leading lights then too although Chris Cairns played. It is again short of full strength after its New Zealand players were ruled ineligible because of an early test team assembly today before the New Zealand-India match starting on Friday in Dunedin.
Despite the disappointment of the Black Caps being unavailable, coach Garry MacDonald said the province was still fielding a strong side which should acquit itself well. The teams are vying for a place in the December 18 final.
Teams:
Canterbury
Llorne Howell (captain), Hamish Barton, Shane Bond, Stephen Cunis, Brad Doody, Mark Hastings, Chris Harris, Mark Priest, Darron Reekers, Tim Walton, Warren Wisneski, Ben Yock.
Central Districts
Craig Spearman (captain), Mark Douglas, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Campbell Furlong, Andrew Penn, Martyn Sigley, David Blake, Craig Findlay, Glen Sulzberger, Lance Hamilton, Matthew Walker.