Having uplifted the 112-year-old Hawke Cup from Hawke's Bay in style, Canterbury Country today begins its defence in an all-South Island clash against 2021/22 Zone 4 Challenger, Southland.
Southland captain Brendan Domigan has won the toss and elected to bowl in Rangiora.
This is the last 'catch-up' Hawke Cup challenge rolled over from the 2021/22 season, and the winner over the next three days will go on to host the first Hawke Cup Challenge of the 2022/23 scheduled challenges in January, at their home ground.
Canterbury Country is without former Canterbury, now Lancashire pro Will Williams for this match, but still packs plenty of punch with Canterbury first-class reps Blake Coburn, Zak Foulkes and Harry Chamberlain in its line-up.
Southland's team includes young Otago Volts left-arm spinner Ben Lockrose. The challengers occupy a special place in Hawke Cup history as the original holders of the silverware in 1910.
To win the Hawke Cup, a team must win outright, or on the first innings in a drawn match, at the holder's home venue. The umpires in this match are Glen Walklin and Kim Cotton.
Canterbury Country Squad
Sam Chamberlain (captain), Harry Chamberlain, Blake Coburn, Alister Collins (wicketkeeper), Zak Foulkes, Jesse Frew, Tim Gruijters, Matt Laffey, Rhys Mariu, Akhil Pant (Hawke Cup debut), Will Smith
12th: Callum Cameron
Southland Squad
Brendan Domigan (captain), Blake Buttar-Scurr (Hawke Cup debut), Nick Brown (wicketkeeper, Hawke Cup debut), Kieran Lloyd, Ben Lockrose, Jared McKenzie, Jack Mockford, Jason Osborne, Keegan Russell, Hamish Skelt, Kurt Thompson
12th: Liam McFaul
Southland's Hawke Cup Record:
1910/11: six matches, when the Hawke Cup was contested as a tournament
14 March 1911 to 25 March 1913: one Challenge
7 February 1970 to 29 December 1970: one Challenge resisted
12 March 1973 to 27 February 1977: 14 challenges resisted
23 March 1987 to 15 March 1988: four challenges resisted
27 February 1989 to 24 February 1992: 15 challenges resisted
11 March 2018 to 17 February 2019: one challenge resisted
RESCHEDULED 2021/22 HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
4-6 November 2022
Hawke Cup Holder Hawke's Bay lost to Zone 3 Challenger, Canterbury Country
Nelson Park, Napier by an innings and 29 runs
18-20 November 2022
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 4 Challenger Southland
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
2022/23 HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
27-29 January 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
10-12 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
24-26 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
10-12 March 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
