Cricket: Map remains the same - North on top

The North's Hamish Marshall kept the pressure on the fielders with his swift running between wickets, but they got him in the end. Picture / Fotopress

The North Island beat the South Island by 58 runs yesterday in a match that enabled the New Zealand selectors to assess some fringe players who could be needed to cover for injuries.

Black Caps coach John Bracewell said the selection panel expected injuries during Australia's tour beginning this week, which meant opportunities for a number of players.

"We have got to bear in mind this is an exceptional season playing five one-dayers and the five test matches on the trot finishing in mid-April," he said.

"We are going to end up using our depth in resources through attrition, so we've got to be careful as to how we announce teams and when and if it may mean some changes from time to time."

North won the toss and batted first, posting a respectable 237 for seven, and were aided by 38 extras.

Topscorer for North was Tama Canning with 40.

He was hitting the ball well when he was freakishly run out. He was backing up from the bowler's end when the ball deflected off the hand of Craig McMillan and knocked the bails off.

Hamish Marshall suffered the same fate from a Hayden Shaw delivery when on 25 and was looking in good touch.

South were dismissed for 179.

North bowlers to put their hand up were left arm medium-fast bowler James Franklin, who took four for 33, and Auckland's Canning, with two for 40.

Franklin claimed the valuable wickets of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming for three and Craig Cumming for 24 while Canning, after being knocked around in his first two overs, came back well to dismiss Michael Papps for 28 and McMillan for a hard-hit 41.

McMillan had a good all-round performance to push his claims for an international recall, bowling his 10 overs economically for the wickets of Ross Taylor and Lou Vincent.

Having international players playing in the domestic competition had a spinoff for up-and-coming players, Bracewell said.

"It gives them some indication of where the bar is," he said.

"The innings of the season to me so far was James Marshall batting with Dan Vettori in the [State Shield] semifinal.

"In terms of batsmanship he [Marshall] not only turned over the strike but took every opportunity to turn when he had to as well. I thought it was outstanding.

"We're trying to look at the bigger picture and trying to get them as quick as possible to cricket fitness."

He used Daryl Tuffey, who carried the drinks for the North side, as an example.

"By not playing him gave us the opportunity to look at other players because we know where Daryl is so why have him play another game.

"[But] the conditions of one match don't necessarily give someone the CV to play international cricket overnight.

"Our selectors will be looking specifically at individuals based on where the weaknesses in our attrition is going to come up because we know we are going to lose some fast bowlers through injury.

"We know that is going to happen. We'd like to prevent it, but the odds are stacked against us."

- NZPA