Cricket: McIntosh blazes a path to the final

Tim McIntosh of the Aces hit a record 161 during the one-day semifinal yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

The selectors used to say Auckland opener Tim McIntosh was fine for test matches but too slow to feature in the shorter forms of the game.

Otago might beg to differ after the 31-year-old hit an Auckland record 161 yesterday to carry his team into the final of the 50-over championship against Canterbury in Christchurch on Sunday.

McIntosh was fifth out as Auckland amassed 340 for five on a flat track in perfect conditions at Colin Maiden Park. Otago were never really on the pace and were all out for 275 on the last ball, giving Auckland victory by 65 runs.

Otago captain Craig Cumming won the toss and decided to field first, a decision that may have been influenced by overcast conditions. But the Auckland batsmen found nothing to worry them.

McIntosh and Lou Vincent put on 102 before Vincent holed out to point for 64 off 69 balls. But Vincent didn't have long to put his feet up. McIntosh injured his left foot when he was on 54 and his fellow opener came back as his runner for the rest of the innings.

The running had its moments and cost Auckland Jeet Raval's wicket when he had scored 38, adding 85 with McIntosh at a run a ball. The three-man running team tried to turn a single into two and Raval was run out after dropping his bat.

There was no respite for Otago, though, McIntosh reached his hundred off 102 balls and added 130 off 80 with captain Gareth Hopkins, who made 47.

When McIntosh passed 159, he replaced his runner Vincent as Auckland's highest one-day scorer - the earlier score being set in a game against Canterbury earlier this season. He finally limped off leg before to Neil Wagner for 161 scored off 138 balls with five sixes and nine fours.

The dour test match McIntosh had been replaced by a more adventurous player, who turned the strike over with singles, but played some sweetly timed pick-up shots when the bowlers lost their length.

Most of the bowlers suffered with Wagner's one wicket costing 77 and James Macmillan snaring two for 67. In that context left-arm spinner Nick Beard's 10 overs for 51 was a good containing effort.

The Otago reply was steady but not spectacular, and they enjoyed a couple of lives from the Auckland field. Aaron Redmond compiled a brisk 69 off 74 balls, but the support was patchy.

Once again Derek de Boorder was a force late in the innings with a brisk 61, never quite raising Otago hopes. Auckland used eight bowlers, with the best of the regulars Ronnie Hira with two for 45 and Andre Adams with two for 35.

But the figures of the innings went to Vincent, who took the last three wickets in his solitary over thanks to two catches in the deep and a sharp one at slip. It was Auckland's second victory over Otago within 11 days.

They now have the chance to atone for their disappointing defeat by Canterbury in the major semifinal last Sunday in Christchurch.