If selected in the playing eleven, former Black Cap and lion-hearted opening bowler Mark Gillespie will play his first domestic representative match since injuring his back while playing for the Firebirds in January last year.

Boam will make his first One-Day appearance for the Firebirds this season, after starring for New Zealand at the top of the order in the recent ICC U19 World Cup. In six innings he scored 202 runs at an average of 50.50.

27-year old Karori opening bowler Chan previously represented the Canterbury Wizards over two seasons between 2005/06 and 2006/07, playing in two first-class, three domestic Twenty20, and six domestic One-Day matches.

Firebirds International player Shah has stayed in Wellington after the HRV Cup to play the remainder of the One-Day competition throughout February. The vastly experienced Shah has played 311 limited overs matches, including 71 ODI’s for England, and has scored 56 half centuries and 12 centuries.

Matthew Bell hasn’t recovered sufficiently to play this match from the broken toe he sustained against the Knights in a recent HRV Cup Twenty20 match and off-spinner Jeetan Patel will captain the side.

This match is a key one for both sides ahead of the One-Day competition Premlinary finals on 13 February. After five rounds the Firebirds are in fourth place, ahead of the Knights on net run rate who are in fifth, but just five points separate the second placed Canterbury Wizards and the Knights.

 

The points table after five rounds (with three rounds remaining) is:

Auckland Aces 17, Canterbury Wizards 13, Central Stags 12, Wellington Firebirds 8, Northern Knights 8, Otago Volts 4

 

Match information:

Where: Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, from 11.00am

Tickets: Adults $10, children $5. Gates open 10.15am

 

The Wellington Firebirds team is (twelve players):

Jeetan Patel (Captain)

Harry Boam

Dewayne Bowden

Sunnie Chan

Mark Gillespie

Cameron Merchant

Chris Nevin

Neal Parlane

Michael Pollard

Owais Shah

Malaesaili Tugaga

Luke Woodcock

 

Wellington v Northern Districts – One-Day Information:

Head to head:

Played 53, won 32, lost 20, no result 1

First met:

15 December 1974, Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, win to Wellington by 16 runs.

Last met:

28 December 2009, Seddon Park Hamilton, win to Wellington by 22 runs (D/L).

 

Wellington v Northern Districts One-Day records:

Wellington highest total: 296, at Wellington 2005/06

Northern Districts lowest total: 80, at Wellington 1982/83

Wellington best batting: 147, Bruce Edgar, Gisborne 1981/82

Wellington best bowling: Andrew Penn, 7 for 28 (8 overs), Mt Maunganui 2000/01