Cricket: Auckland need big win for shot at final

Plunket shield cricket. Photo / APN

Auckland's Plunket Shield ambitions rest on their eighth round game against struggling Otago at Colin Maiden Park, starting today.

Under the points system in place, a maximum of 20 points are on offer in each game.

Auckland sit fourth - 26 points - behind leaders Northern Districts, whom they host in the penultimate round next week. But to give themselves a chance of adding to the HRV Cup they won earlier in the season, Otago must be well beaten, along with the hope that ND find life difficult against second-placed Wellington in the capital.

Auckland have lost their last two games, by seven wickets to Wellington and six wickets to Central Districts. With those results their momentum has gone too.

Limited-overs internationals Michael Bates and Colin de Grandhomme are back, along with seamer Dean Bartlett, but Auckland have dropped out-of-form opener Tim McIntosh, and experienced seamer Daryl Tuffey is also left out.

Otago came within four runs of chasing down 312 to beat ND in Hamilton at the start of the week, a game which ended in recriminations and finger pointing over tactics and a disputed catch. In other games, Wellington, on a surprising late-season tear, host ND, and have dumped test batsman Jesse Ryder back in their side, along with ODI players Andy McKay and James Franklin

Canterbury, at the bottom of the table, play third-placed Central Districts in Nelson.

Points after seven rounds: ND 83, Wellington 66, CD 65, Auckland 57, Otago 34, Canterbury 33.

AUCKLAND V OTAGO

Plunket Shield, eighth round, Colin Maiden Park, 10.30am today

Auckland: Gareth Hopkins (c), Jeet Raval, Brad Cachopa, Neal Parlane, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Dean Bartlett, Bhupinder Singh, Michael Bates, Mitchell McClenaghan, Bruce Martin.

Otago: Craig Cumming (c) Hamish Rutherford, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Darren Broom, Sam Wells, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder, Nick Beard, Neil Wagner, James McMillan, Mark Craig.