According to a press release by New Zealand Cricket, the first Hawke Cup Challenge of 2020/2021 saw a ground delay at Rangiora as Nelson captain Brenden Hodgson elected to bat after winning the toss. Both Nelson and Canterbury Country feature strong line-ups to Mainpower Oval with Greg Hay captain of Central Stags Plunket Shield, spinner Felix Murray, allrounder Henry Shipley and Fraser Sheat set to go head to head along with Under 19 stars Rhys Mariu, Jesse Frew and brother of Black Cap Will Young, Rupert Young. At the end of last season, Rupert Young scored 166 against Otago Country in Canterbury Country’s last defence. The two sides previously met in December at the second round of this season’s Zone 3 inter-district competition. The match resulted in Mariu, Joe Williams and Will Hamilton posting centuries and finishing the first innings 446/7 while hosts Nelson reached 146/6 at Nelson’s Marsden Rec. Nelson last lifted the Hawke Cup in 2019, breaking a 22 year old drought after successfully challenging Southland for the trophy.
