Cricket: Auckland cruise back to top of table

By TERRY MADDAFORD

There was a touch of the bizarre as Auckland cruised to their third outright win in four Shell Trophy cricket matches this season with a comprehensive six-wicket win over Canterbury at Eden Park yesterday.

The win took Auckland back to the top of the points table and leaves them well placed to make the final. Their last match is against Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland from March 23 to 26.

Starting the fourth day's play with all their wickets intact and with victory just 161 runs away, Auckland began steadily, even if a surprise shower sent them off for 16 minutes.

They then lost openers John Aiken and Aaron Barnes, promoted in place of injured skipper Blair Pocock, as Warren Wisneski got it right.

Adam Parore took his tally of runs in the match to 17 before being caught at the wicket for 12 as Auckland reached 40 for three.

But that was about it for Canterbury. Stephen Lynch continued his good form in his comeback from injury, and Richard King started to settle in.

They found few terrors in the Canterbury attack and King, on 31, took 17 from one Carl Anderson over. King hit the first ball back over the bowler's head for six and the ball was never found.

Three deliveries later, with a substitute ball which he had already hit to the boundary for four, King nicked a shot on to the helmet behind wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins and earned himself a mandatory five runs. He took two from the next ball and played out the last.

With victory in sight, King was stumped by Hopkins, leaving Lynch (47 not out) and Llorne Howell to steer Auckland home.

"They beat us fair and square," said Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald.

"They out-muscled and outplayed us."

Canterbury have yet to take a point from four trophy outings this season.

Pocock was happy with his team's all-round performance, as they came back strongly after losing to Northern Districts in Taupo in the last round.

"I thought we played a well-controlled game," he said.

"At times we seemed to be doing our best to let them back in with the odd rash shot, but generally we did all right.

"I thought Kyle Mills and Tama Canning again bowled very well. They have continually knocked the top off the opposition's batting and got us into a strong position.

"We have played well all year and if it comes down to our next game against Central Districts to find the second finalist that would be fair enough."