CLEAR Black Caps take on the National Bank Scarfies in battle of the Octagon

CLEAR Black Caps take on the National Bank Scarfies in battle of the Octagon
New Zealand Cricket - 23 February 2001

A full strength CLEAR Black Caps side will take on the National Bank Scarfies in the battle of the Octagon. The match will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Scarfies captain Gavin Larsen leads a celebrity-studded side including Josh Kronfeld (rugby), Glen Denham (basketball), Matt Horne, Kerry Walmsley, Mark Baxter (perennial student), Liz van Welie (swimmer), Adine Harper (netball), Brendon McCullum (captain NZ under 19 cricket team) and Clare Taylor (England cricket and soccer).

Larsen is anticipating a true grudge match after last year's encounter ended in a tie on the last ball. "We might not have a Shoaib Akhtar in our side but we'll be throwing everything we've got at the CLEAR Black Caps - and being scarfies that could include some fairly unsavoury objects!," he said.

Stephen Fleming says his side will spare no quarter. "It might be orientation week but by the time we've finished with them these scarfies won't know whether they are coming or going."

Official umpire, Billy Bowden, has been swotting up on the special rules for the match. There will be No LBWs and every player will take a turn at both batting and bowling. (See attached rule sheet).

Mayor Sukhi Turner will assist Bowden as third umpire. From her overview on the mayoral balcony she may demand full action replays from the players.

The Octagon pitch will be prepared by the Dunedin City Council and is expected to take both bounce and turn. Dunedin City Council general manager finance, Athol Stephens, is the official scorer.

The CLEAR Black Caps will also play Pakistan in the final National Bank One Day International at Carisbrook in a day/nighter the following day, Wednesday 28 February.

Teams	New Zealand.
First Class Teams	Otago.