CRICKET: Barlow: We will chase if set target

HAMISH BIDWELL
Rain looks likely to be ultimate winner in Central Districts' match against Canterbury in Christchurch.
The heavens opened at about 7.30 this morning, with most of the city, including the Village Green out at QE II Stadium, lashed by hail. That meant play was destined to start late today, if at all, said Stags coach Graham Barlow.
"We're just playing a waiting game at the hotel at the moment," Barlow said.
"I've spoken to Nos (Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy) and he says the covers are still on and it's difficult to know what's going to happen. Knowing Nos, I would definitely have expected that they would have set us a target today, but we'll just have to wait and see."
Having begun with the scores level yesterday morning, CD eventually secured a 60-run first innings lead, which quickly evaporated as Michael Papps got after the Stags' bowling.
"We were hoping to make a few in-roads with the new ball but we bowled muck to be honest," said the coach.
"We were poor again after lunch but much better between drinks and tea when Skippy (Mathew Sinclair) and Min (Patel) pegged them back a bit. Once they (Papps and Shanan Stewart) got in they were hard to dislodge but I was very surprised that they didn't try to get after Min, especially after they'd both passed 50.
"I would've thought that they might look to be more positive and try and make the play a bit. From our point of view, we were quite happy to hold them for a bit and we certainly didn't want to over-attack at that stage."
So with no chance of a full day's play, the Stags are now the only team left with a chance of winning the match. Having conceded first innings points, Canterbury needs to make the running and try and set CD a target, but they wouldn't seem to have enough time to build on their lead of 180 and then bowl the visitors out.
"If they do set us a target, I think we'll always look to chase it down," said Barlow.
"We'll always look to be positive in that situation but it's just a question of how we set it up."
At the same time, Barlow has been looking over his shoulder at developments in the other two State Championship matches. Otago's outright win over Auckland sees them move into second place behind leaders Wellington, who are on track for maximum points against Northern Districts.
With their two points from this match, CD are third, and would move up to second with a win in their next match against Otago at Pukekura Park. The top three teams then play each of the bottom three to determine who will contest the final round, played over five days in early April. Scores (Third day yesterday):
At QEII Village Green in Christchurch: Canterbury 314 and 244 for 3 (M Papps 100, S Stewart 94; B Diamanti 3-74) v Central Districts 374 (T Weston 85no, E Thompson 122; N McLean 2-49, R Sherlock 1-87, C Harris 1-50, B Hiini 5-82, P Wiseman 1-34).
At the Basin Reserve in Wellington: Wellington 448 and 303 for 3 (M Bell 54, M Parlane 82, J Ryder 66, N Parlane 36no, C Nevin 45no) v Northern Districts 312 for 9 dec (N Horsley 42, P McGlashan 103no; M Gillespie 3-121, C Shreck 5-89) and 22 for 1.
At Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland:
Auckland 272 and 216 (T Lythe 47, T Canning 51, A Adams 25; W McSkimming 2-49, D Sewell 3-58, G Shaw 2-41, B Scott 2-26, N McCullum 1-31) v Otago 352 and 139 for 4 (J Sheed 60no, N Broom 25, G Hopkins 28no; K Mills 2-30, T Canning 1-15).