Better weather helps White Ferns preparations

New Zealand's women's cricketers found the weather conditions they were looking for in Hawke's Bay over the weekend but found the competition too tough.

Playing a combined men's team at Nelson Park in Napier, the CLEAR White Ferns scored 211/7 batting first.

Paula Flannery scored 51, captain Emily Drumm hit 67 and Debbie Hockley was next highest scorer with 29.

Bowling for the combined men's team were two members of the White Ferns squad, Paula Gruber who took 4-65 from 10 overs and Erin McDonald who took 1-37.

The men's team, led by Peter McGlashan scored 238/2 in 50 overs. Katrina Keenan took 1-38 from her 10 overs. Kathryn Ramel took 1-45 from 10, Catherine Campbell took 0-46, Munokoa Tunupopo took 0-47 from her 10 while Haidee Tiffen took 0-54.

The side also held an open wicket net on Monday, the day after the game.

Coach Mike Shrimpton said: "The exercise was very valuable.

"We feel we are a game short in terms of our playing experience for this stage of the season.

"It is critically important that we play our Possibles-Probables trial matches at Lincoln this weekend.

"The team is to be named on Tuesday and to date there have not been enough playing opportunities for all players to push for inclusion in the side.

"Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this weekend," he said.

The teams for the trial are:

Probables: Emily Drumm (captain), Anna O'Leary, Kate Pulford, Haidee Tiffin, Rebecca Rolls, Katrina Keenan, Clare Nicholson, Natalie Scripps, Hannah Rae, Erin Kelly (Saturday), Erin McDonald (Sunday).

Possibles: Kathryn Ramel (captain), Debbie Hockley, Paula Flannery, Nicola Payne, Maria Fahey, Helen Watson, Rachel Pullar, Nicola Brown, Munokoa Tunupopo, Paula Gruber, Emily Travers.

The games will be played at Lincoln Green, starting at either 10.30am or 11am, depending on the dew.