Aotearoa Māori Invitational XI to take on Rotorua Boys'

NZC have announced an Aotearoa Māori Invitational XI to compete against Rotorua Boys’ Invitational XI this Friday (1^st March) in Rotorua.

The one-off Twenty20 match represents an attempt to re-energise cricket at the secondary school, while continuing to showcase and raise the profile of Māori Cricket.

The Aotearoa Māori Invitational XI led by captain Dusan Hakaraia (Tāmaki Makaurau Māori) will feature a number of recent Maori Secondary Schoolboys graduates.

Schoolboys captain Jerome Robinson, fast bowler Harry Sixton, and left-arm spinner Ryan Smardon all impressed at the recent Rangatahi Cricket Festival and will offer a youthful punch to the side.

Recent Auckland representative, Angus Olliver, will bolster an already strong Aotearoa Māori Invitational bowling attack.

The Rotorua Invitational squad is also littered with talent, including age-group representatives such as wicketkeeper-bat Kade Smit and all-rounder Tom Yetsenga.

The quartet of Gray brothers from Poverty Bay will provide a strong backbone for the Rotorua squad.

Rotorua Boys’ Director of Cricket, Jake Rowe, will also don his school’s colours alongside a handful of current RBHS 1^st XI players.

AOTEAROA MĀORI INVITATIONAL V ROTORUA BOYS’ INVITATIONAL