Auckland faces a must win weekend if it is to successfully defend the State Insurance Cup this summer.

The fourth and final round of the State Insurance Cup will be played this weekend and it promises to be an interesting round with leaders Canterbury on 13 points, State Central Districts close behind on 12 and Auckland in third position on 9 points.

Auckland who have four matches remaining this weekend will host State Wellington and State Central Districts. The match between Auckland and CD could prove an interesting encounter as Central Districts endeavour to hold on to the lead. In the other matches Canterbury will come up against the young Northern Districts side who toppled Auckland in Round Three while Otago also play State Northern Districts.

Central Districts have performed well in this year's State Insurance Cup, winning all of their earlier matches before stumbling against Canterbury back in Round Three. Two wins against Auckland this weekend will be crucial if they are to have any chance of making the final.

This young side boasts both International players like Emily Travers, Kate Pulford and Erin McDonald as well as experienced campaigners Megan Graham and Melissa Murray who have been playing first class cricket for several years.

Kate Pulford has been in great form scoring plenty of runs and opening the bowling attack with her pacy deliveries. Aimee Mason in her second season of State Insurance Cup is also starting to put together some consistent performances with bat and ball and another player to impress has been the young leg spin bowler and top order bat from Horowhenua Philippa Gerish.

While the top sides are battling it out, several players are in close competition for the top batting and bowling averages. Kate Pulford leads the runs on 288 but is closely followed by Kathryn Ramel on 277 and Maia Lewis who is in third position with 266 runs.

Haidee Tiffen tops the bowling with 13 wickets but Natalie Scripps and Jenny Stafford are threatening with 12 wickets each. The Wellington off spinner Anna Corbin has 11 wickets to date.

The grand final is scheduled for February 10 and this will wrap up the women's cricket season as far as International and first class cricket is concerned. Then it will be a return to the club scene for the majority of the players before the National selectors announce their plans for the coming season with regard to selections and playing programmes.

© CricInfo