Cricket: Batsmen limber up for first Windies test

Hamish Rutherford. Photo / AP

Several leading New Zealand batsmen today have a prime opportunity for a lengthy innings before the first test against the West Indies next week.

The New Zealand selection will start the third and final day of their practice match against the West Indies - at least five of them plus six ring-ins - at Lincoln on 103 for none in their second innings, 100 ahead of the visitors.

Test openers Hamish Rutherford (61 not out) and Peter Fulton (32 not out) need runs and time in the middle.

Lefthander Rutherford hit 61 off 49 balls in the first innings; this time he's been slightly more pedantic, taking 52 deliveries so far, with nine fours and a six.

They've got their runs off only 19 overs, giving two of the West Indies new-ball test candidates, Shannon Gabriel (five overs for 28) and Sheldon Cottrell (seven for 44), some tap on the way. Dean Brownlie, national skipper Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham would also relish a decent innings.

Earlier veteran West Indian Shiv Chanderpaul warmed up for University Oval next week with 89 off 106 balls as his team made 230 for six declared. Most of the rest of the runs came from the helpers - Aaron Redmond made 67 and Jeet Raval 39, while Otago spinner Mark Craig got four for 78.

Northern Districts took a large bound up the Plunket Shield points table with their three-day win over disappointing Central Districts in Hamilton yesterday.

CD's cause was lost before play began belatedly at lunchtime after morning rain. They started at 169 for eight, still needing 29 to make their hosts bat a second time.

However gritty wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and tailender Ben Wheeler fought a bold fight, sharing a 102-run stand for the ninth wicket, ensuring ND would need to put the pads on again.

Van Wyk fell five short of what would have been a seventh first-class 100, while Wheeler made easily his best first-class score, 81 not out off 103 balls. There were three wickets each for Scott Kuggeleijn and Daryl Mitchell, a couple for Tim Southee.

Needing 99 to win, ND reached the target with three down. Captain Daniel Flynn made 32 and Mitchell an unbeaten 26.

Otago lead the table on 25 points, with ND on 23, Wellington 22, Canterbury 21, Auckland 10 and CD 9.

A full round of games starts next Wednesday, including Auckland hosting CD at Eden Park's outer oval, ND playing Otago in Whangarei and Canterbury facing Wellington at Rangiora.

Auckland will field a strong lineup for the first of their back-to-back HRV Cup games at Eden Park, against Wellington tonight.

Internationals Kyle Mills, Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan return to a 12 which already includes England limited-overs international Luke Wright and New Zealand players Martin Guptill and Bruce Martin.

It is a quick turnaround for the teams, who clashed in Wellington last weekend, Auckland winning on the penultimate ball. Auckland coach Matt Horne said there would be no problems realigning his side to bring in the returning trio.

"It's something you can predict fairly well in advance and plan for accordingly so it's no problem and it's great to just have that kind of quality walk back in the door for your next game," he said.

Auckland 12: Gareth Hopkins (c), Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Luke Wright, Craig Cachopa, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Donovan Grobbelaar, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan, Michael Bates, Bruce Martin.