Cricket cup changes

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 15

Cricket cup changes

If it has made a faltering start because of wet weather, this season’s Cyclone Series for the Hawke Cup will provide some extremely keen competition among minor associations before the four challengers are found: these teams will meet the holder, Nelson, on dates from mid-February to late March. Some changes have been made in this equivalent of a minor counties championship. It has become the Cyclone Series because of the continued sponsorship of Cyclone Industries, Ltd, part of

the Brierley group. The principal, Mr Ron Brierley, is a keen supporter of cricket and is now the president of the fund-raising New Zealand Cricket Foundation. Although the name of the competition has changed, the Hawke Cup sought by minors for the last 67 years, will again be at stake. A second change has been the removal of a restriction on the length of each side’s first innings. Last summer there was a limit of 120 overs. Twenty-four teams set out to qualifty for the challenge matches, playing in four

zones, on a knock-out basis. Some did not see a ball bowled. One of the rained-out games was between South Canterbury and North Canterbury at Dudley Park. This will now be played on December 5 and 6. The Buller-West Coast match, also rained-out, has been set down for this weekend. The Cyclone Series sponsors provide $5OOO for teams’ travel costs. An additional incentive this season comes from “man of the match” awards at each of the 24 games which will be played before the series ends.