Cricket: Cairns at a loss after poor batting on fine pitch

Lance Cairns. Photo / Steven McNicholl

National selector Lance Cairns left Colin Maiden Park on Saturday a puzzled man. How could so many batsmen have failed to profit from a perfectly good pitch?

Cairns spent three days at the Auckland v Northern Districts Plunket Shield game but it was only on the last afternoon he saw some batting fireworks as Brad Wilson, with an undefeated 100, led Northern to a nine-wicket win with a day to spare.

"That's what we should have seen earlier," said Cairns as Wilson and Daniel Flynn [68 not out] combined in a 136-run partnership as Northern knocked off the 177 runs required for victory in 40 overs.

That fourth innings spurt was in contrast to earlier batting traumas. Auckland tumbled to 136 in their first innings in the wake of paceman Trent Boult's career-best figures of five for 35.

Veteran spinner Bruce Martin then took seven wickets and Northern were dismissed for 213, of which Wilson contributed 56 and Hamish Marshall 57. At 125 for three in their second innings, Auckland, with Andrew de Boorder on 54, had the chance to build a clear lead.

But de Boorder was out quickly on Saturday and only Colin de Grandhomme, with a patient 56, offered resistance as Auckland were rolled for 253. Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel and Boult took three wickets each.

As Northern chased the 177 for victory, it quickly became a question of when rather than if they would do it. In the end they reached their target with 20 minutes of the third day to spare.

In a competition complicated by the postponement of the Canterbury v Wellington game, defending champions Northern temporarily moved from fourth to second behind runaway leaders Central Districts. Auckland remain at the bottom without a win.

"Our bowling in both innings was the key, particularly this morning," said ND coach Grant Bradburn. "The first-innings scores didn't reflect the quality of the pitch."

Meanwhile, Otago made all the running en route to a deserved victory over Plunket Shield leaders Central Districts, at Napier's McLean Park.

Otago picked up maximum points by winning by 117 runs after a few lively declarations left CD needing 391 from 96 overs. Neil Wagner ended with four for 92 and debutant offspinner Mark Craig three for 87 off 27 overs.