Kayley Knight Debuts; Nensi Patel Returns to New Zealand Women’s Squad
Kayley Knight and Nensi Patel have been included in the New Zealand Women’s squad for an upcoming home series against Zimbabwe. This marks a significant moment, as it will be the first time these two teams compete in a women’s international series. The series will consist of three T20 internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs) starting from February 24.
Series Details
The matches will take place at:
- Seddon Park, Hamilton
- University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Player Highlights
Kayley Knight is set to potentially make her international debut. She has already made a name for herself in domestic cricket, particularly in the U19 T20 World Cup and as a key bowler for the Northern Brave in the Super Smash. Knight recorded 10 wickets this past season with an impressive economy rate of 6.16.
Nensi Patel returns to the squad after securing a central contract for the 2022-23 season. She also had a standout domestic summer, emerging as the leading run-scorer for the Northern Brave in the Super Smash. Patel equaled Knight in wickets taken, proving her versatility as an off-spin all-rounder.
Coaching Insights
Head Coach Ben Sawyer expressed confidence in the new additions to the squad. He noted their performances over the past 12-18 months have solidified their places. He emphasized that Patel’s contributions with both bat and ball will be vital, especially with Eden unavailable for selection. Sawyer also highlighted Knight’s potential as a frontline seam bowler for the team.
Squad Composition
Molly Penfold has been named as a replacement for Knight in the ODI lineup, contributing to a well-rounded pace attack. The pace unit now features:
- Bree Illing (left-arm)
- Jess Kerr (right-arm)
- Rosemary Mair (right-arm)
The team will be captained by Melie Kerr. With 172 international appearances under her belt, this series will be her first as the permanent captain, guiding a promising squad into this historic matchup with Zimbabwe.
