Sinclair and Oram will boost CD in Perth

Central Districts will be strengthened for their final two pool games at the Champions Trophy tournament in Perth next week when international players Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram fly across on Sunday to join the side.

CD play KwaZulu Natal in their first game on Thursday and then don't play again until Monday and Tuesday. Should they make the final, it will be played on Wednesday. All games are telecast in New Zealand on Sky TV.

The CD side leaves on Monday for Perth, and played a match yesterday against the Cornwall Cricket Club at Colin Maiden Park today.

CD batted first and scored 222 on what was described as a "pretty average wicket". David Kelly scored 50 and Mark Douglas and Glen Sulzberger each had scores in the 20s.

Cornwall were dismissed for 125 with Andrew Schwass taking three wickets, Brent Hefford and Ewen Thompson taking two each.

Coach Dipak Patel said CD would go to Perth well prepared after the support received from New Zealand Cricket who organised the matches against the New Zealand Selection XI and there had been the chance to play today in Auckland.

"Between our one-day and four-day cricket we have been unbeaten over our last seven outings.

"We are confident and believe we can be very competitive in Perth," he said.

Some background work has been done on their opponents, courtesy of CricInfo and through the local knowledge of professional Ben Smith who has had some dealings with KwaZulu Natal.

Patel and Craig Spearman are familiar with Perth and the conditions there while they have some contacts who will provide them with information on what to expect from West Australia.

"The mystery side will be the Indians," he said.

Often the problem for New Zealanders playing in Perth is getting used to the bouncy track at the Western Australia Cricket Ground.

"The thing about Perth is the practice wickets are as good if not better than out in the middle and we have two sessions there and have requested extra nets," Patel said.

He was delighted that CD officials had decided to send Oram and Sinclair over at their own expense and it would have a longer term benefit for CD.