Cricket: Draw keeps Auckland with leaders

By LINDSAY KNIGHT

Auckland emerged with plenty of satisfaction from their drawn match against Otago at North Harbour Stadium yesterday.

By running through Otago's batting, Auckland took first innings points to maintain a leading place on the State Championship table, and in the limited time which was possible in a rain-affected match there were several contributors.

Foremost was left-handed opening batsman Tim McIntosh, the only player on either side to prosper in testing batting conditions. He batted the entire Auckland first innings to finish on Saturday with 157, his fifth first-class century.

But for captain Brooke Walker, equally important hands came from his medium pace seam attack led by Tama Canning and with the excellent backup from young Gareth Shaw, Heath Davis, Craig Pryor and Aaron Barnes.

When play ended on Saturday, with Otago 89 for one in their first innings chase, there seemed every chance Auckland's 289 would be overhauled.

But yesterday the Auckland bowlers were always in charge, striking important blows when both overnight batsmen, Robbie Lawson and Craig Cumming, went early. From then on there was little resistance as Otago were dismissed for 185.

"That first hour was important for us," Walker said. "All of our bowlers were outstanding, especially Heath Davis, who was economical and tight."

Canning, with four for 48, had the best figures, but almost as imposing were those of Davis: just five runs coming from his 12 overs and as a reflection of the work he has put in recently in improving what was a notorious waywardness, there was not one no ball or wide.

Walker also complimented the wicketkeeping of Reece Young who despite having to contend with an up-and-down pitch which produced some variable bounce, made few errors.

Auckland's only blemishes were in the field where a couple of chances were put down at gully.

Had these been accepted, the home side might just have had Otago in a position where a follow-on might have been forced, enabling Auckland to press for the outrighter.

But that was always a remote chance and Walker was philosophical about the fielding lapses.

"You have got to take chances like that, but then no one goes out to drop them deliberately," he said.

McIntosh, the last man out in the Auckland first innings, batted with commendable patience for 500 minutes, and from 381 balls hit 13 fours and a six.

* Jeff Wilson's comeback to top cricket has suffered another setback.

Late in the Auckland first innings, he suffered a calf strain and took no part in the final day.

It is expected that Wilson will be out for the next three weeks at least and so miss the rest of Otago's State Shield one-day campaign.

But he hopes to return when the four-day championship resumes next month.

"It's terribly frustrating, especially after I had a rib cartilage injury earlier in the season," he said.

For all that the former All Black star was enjoying his return to cricket and while disappointed not to have had the chance to play a long innings, he was happy with his bowling form.

His absence meant only 10 Otago batsmen taking the crease in the side's first innings.

"Had we been closer I might have batted, but we finished so far behind it wasn't worth it," he said.