Cricket: Dawdling pace suits Wellington

Wellington captain Mathew Bell paid the ultimate price for failing to master a skill the two State Championship finalists have sought to perfect in the past three days.

Bell saw his off stump uprooted just seven runs short of raising his 17th first-class century on the third day of the final against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

His character-filled 93 represented six hours of attention to detail as the two teams continued their trial by attrition. The 250 overs have produced the princely sum of 596 runs with two days of the final remaining.

Wellington reached stumps on 284 for eight in their first innings, still 28 short of the 312 posted by Central Districts.

The funereal pace of play suits Wellington because, as the top qualifiers, they need just a draw to win the State Championship title.

Central Districts should be considerably more anxious than they have admitted to because, as the second qualifiers, they must win the game outright.

The mode of Bell's dismissal was wonderfully ironic, because the specialist batsmen from both teams have made an art out of the practice of leaving the ball in this match.

So what should Bell do, when seamer Michael Mason offers up a straightish delivery?

After getting his eye in by facing 260 balls in 377 minutes, he shouldered arms and watched as his fighting innings ended in the softest of dismissals, the ball hurtling, unchallenged, into his off stump.

Bell and Jesse Ryder resumed yesterday morning with Wellington on 93 for two seeking to grind down Central Districts' resistance.

The ploy was working, too. Wellington were making inroads as Bell and Ryder put on 127 for the third wicket before Ryder was prised out with the score at 174.

Ryder, normally free-scoring and adventurous, took almost three hours over his work as he collected eight fours and one six before being deceived by English offspinner Min Patel.

The arrival of the second new ball saw Central Districts briefly go on the offensive after lunch when they captured three more wickets.

Neal Parlane departed for 19 facing the first delivery with the second new ball from Michael Mason, which he edged behind to wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs.

Not long afterwards Chris Nevin had made just 11 when he hit a fullish ball from Lance Hamilton directly to Jarrod Englefield at mid-off.

Bell's studious stay ended in the next over and at 234 for six Wellington were in a potentially difficult situation.

Their mood brightened a shade when Stu Mills made 24 and the lower order hung about as they ended the penultimate day well positioned to achieve the result they want.

It is difficult to see how Central Districts can leave Wellington a target they will chase.

To have any chance the visitors somehow have to advance the match quickly enough to leave themselves sufficient time to dismiss Wellington a second time.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL - WELLINGTON v CD

(Basin Reserve)

Stumps, third day.-

CENTRAL DISTRICTS

First innings 312

WELLINGTON

First innings (overnight 93-2)

M. Bell b Mason 93
L. Woodcock lbw b Hamilton 0
M. Parlane lbw b Thompson 17
J. Ryder b Patel 71
N. Parlane c Griggs b Mason 19
C. Nevin c Englefield b Hamilton 11
G. Elliott lbw b Patel 12
S. Mills lbw b Mason 24
D. Bowden not out 13
S. Rasmussen not out 0
Extras (7b, 8lb, 2w, 7nb) 24
--Total (for 8 wkts, 119 overs) 284
Fall: 1/2, 2/47, 3/174, 4/215, 5/234, 6/234, 7/270, 8/272.

Bowling: Mason 28-7-63-3 (3nb), Hamilton 22-5-60-2 (3nb), Thompson 23-11-36-1 (1nb), Diamanti 23-9-53-0 (2w), Patel 23-6-57-2.

- NZPA