By TERRY MADDAFORD
Wellington go into cricket's "Clayton's" Shell Trophy final the hottest of hot favourites to beat Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve today.
New Zealand Cricket decreed there would be no final as such to this season's domestic first-class competition but they have been handed the final you have when you are not having a final with the top two teams - and only sides with a chance of winning - meeting in the last-round matches.
The home side have the odds stacked heavily in their favour on all but one count.
And that might well work in Northern's favour.
Wellington have collected points in eight of their nine outings - winning four outright, four on the first innings. Their only "non return" was in Hamilton, where they were humbled by an innings and 46 runs by Northern Districts.
But that is Northern's only bright spot ahead of today's clash. They have won four games outright but have added just one lot of first innings points.
Individually, Wellington hold sway.
They have four batsmen averaging over 40 - although Roger Twose will be missing - with captain Mathew Bell leading the way with 780 runs at 52.00. Of the others lining up at the Basin, Chris Nevin has 464 at 46.40 and Richard Jones 662 at 41.37.
Northern have no one with better than an average of 40. Their batting effort is led by Matthew Hart, Grant Bradburn and Simon Doull, who would all be expected to play their most significant role with the ball rather than the bat.
Without Daryl Tuffey - the destroyer in that victory in Hamilton - the Northern bowling is led by Joseph Yovich, who has 31 wickets at an average of 27.06.
Wellington have newcomer Iain O'Brien - who was not required for their first game but has been a top performer since - to spearhead their bowling attack.
In an amazing first season, O'Brien has bagged 40 wickets at 16.25 and conceded just 2.50 runs an over from almost 260 overs.
Not surprisingly, Wellington go into the match with the same 12 who humbled Auckland at Cornwall Park this week. Northern have made just one change, with Bruce Martin returning in place of Alex Tait. Simon Andrews, who made his debut against Otago, will be 12th man.
In other matches Auckland play Canterbury at Eden Park and Otago meet Central Districts in Alexandra.
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