Cricket: Captains pull plug on tedium

WELLINGTON - Lack of firepower among the Wellington bowlers and resolute Canterbury batting saw their Shell Trophy cricket match end in a tame draw at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday.

The match was called off at tea after Canterbury had battled their way to 384 for five in their second innings.

Wellington had looked poised for an outright result when they enforced the follow-on after dismissing Canterbury for 182 before lunch on Saturday. This gave them a first-innings lead of 208 runs after they had scored 390 in their first innings.

But with Canterbury 176 runs in credit by tea yesterday and the game heading for a tame draw, both captains agreed to put the tedious struggle to bed.

It was welcome respite for Wellington, who had spent seven sessions in the field, two of them yesterday being hammered by a near-galeforce northerly wind.

Wellington, who had suffered two heavy defeats before this match, have struggled to bowl sides out once let alone twice in their trophy matches this season, and they were always going to struggle on a Basin Reserve pitch coach Vaughn Johnson described as "flat as a pancake."

Johnson conceded the injury-enforced unavailability of strike bowler Carl Bulfin had been a huge blow to Wellington's trophy campaign, and Robert Kennedy's call-up to the New Zealand side last Thursday had also not helped their chances against Canterbury.

The match was destined for a draw when Canterbury went to stumps on Saturday night at 198 for two after opener Brad Doody, who made 72, and Gary Stead were both dropped at second slip early in their innings.

Stead cashed in yesterday with his fourth first-class century and even when he was eventually bowled by left-arm spinner Mark Jefferson for 125, the match was safe for Canterbury.

Richard Petrie was the best of the Wellington bowlers yesterday, battling through a marathon 35 overs, including 15 maidens, to return the excellent figures of three for 53.

Teenage offspinner Jeetan Patel troubled the Canterbury batsmen and was unlucky not to claim better figures than one for 118 off 47 overs.

But the pitch offered less turn than Johnson had expected and Wellington were always going to struggle to bowl Canterbury out a second time, even though they had time and runs in their favour.

"It's a big improvement from our last game so I'm pleased in that respect," Johnson said.

"Obviously we would have liked to have forced a result but we just didn't have the firepower, nobody who could really roar in. Losing Carl Bulfin has been a major problem.

"Canterbury batted very well over the last two days on a pitch that didn't break up as much as we thought.

"The one disappointment was we grassed a couple of catches from Doody and Gary Stead which you can't afford to do at this level."

Stead, who showed considerable patience during his 354-minute, 320-ball innings, was delighted Canterbury had held out for a draw.

"I'm pleased because I think it's important for our young team to learn how not to lose a game before the wins, which will come." - NZPA