Cricket: Auckland bumble to a third straight loss

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland plunged to an embarrassing defeat against Otago at Eden Park leaving it without a point after three rounds of the Shell Trophy.

An Otago side hardly dripping with star quality last night wrapped up a six-wicket win at the end of the third of four scheduled days.

After trailing by 117 on the first innings, Auckland set Otago the meagre target of 85 to win, which even a poor Otago batting effort could not fail to reach.

Apart from a 92-run partnership between Auckland's Richard King and Dion Nash and some moments of class from Otago opener Matt Horne, it was a day of batting to forget on an outer oval pitch with varying bounce.

In front of a crowd which outnumbered the lone security guard about 20 to one, Horne guided his side to the win as his batting partners did their best to spare Auckland's blushes.

Auckland's cause wasn't helped by a cruel lbw decision from umpire Barry Frost that cut down Nash's innings, but Auckland had to shoulder most of the blame themselves.

Auckland chief executive Lindsay Crocker pointed to the Aces strong start in the Shell Cup competition and creditable performances in their opening trophy games when asked to judge his side's early-season form.

"But this was a very disappointing performance, losing in three days," he said.

"Otago played very well but we thought before the game we had the edge when comparing the sides man to man.

"After all the hard work and preparation it is just very disappointing."

King and Nash had threatened to make a game of it after beginning their partnership early yesterday when Auckland were in deep trouble at 30 for four wickets.

King had been given a serious helping hand by Otago when Paul Wiseman put down a straight forward catch in the slips from Craig Pryor's bowling, when King was on 21 and Auckland were 72 for four.

But just when Auckland looked capable of setting a reasonable target King fell lbw to Karl O'Dowda then Nash was undone by an lbw decision that looked high and down leg.

Auckland's tail produced a few cameos as they battled to 201, but nothing that ever looked like denying Otago the win.

In front of a crowd significantly bolstered by the arrival of a kids' party complete with wobbly castle and a juggling clown, Horne had some early luck when he edged the impressive Chris Drum through the slips. But there was never any doubt that Otago would reach their target.

Auckland have included Llorne Howell and Aaron Barnes in their 12 for tomorrow's Shell Cup game at Eden Park, with John Aiken missing out from the 11 who played in the trophy game.

Teams:

Auckland: Tim McIntosh, Aaron Barnes, Lou Vincent, Blair Pocock, Dion Nash, Tama Canning, Richard Morgan, Mark Haslam, Chris Drum, Llorne Howell, Andre Adams, Richard King.

Otago: Matt Horne, Andrew Hore, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Lee Germon, Craig Pryor, Martin Croy, Mark Billcliff, Karl O'Dowda, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming.