Cricket: First ton ends drought for Auckland

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A determined Auckland team, well-led by Nick Horsley's richly-deserved maiden test century, yesterday won their first major championship in six years.

It was a fitting farewell to coach Tony Sail, who steps aside after three years.

Although they lost their last match of the State Championship season to Wellington on the first innings, Sail and captain Brooke Walker had done their sums.

When Horsley and Rob Nicol, another in his first season, steered Auckland beyond 169 in their second innings yesterday afternoon, they had done enough to end Wellington's faint hopes of winning the title on a superior run rate.

The failing light could not stop Horsley's charge to his highest first- class score, 106 not out, 11 more than the 95 he scored this season against Bangladesh.

At stumps, Auckland were 217 for four, 26 short of the target they needed to complete a seventh outright win of the season.

"We have played our cricket hard all season, but I must admit I have found it a bit of a struggle at times in the last week," Walker said after accepting the championship trophy and his winner's medal.

"I'm learning the whole time - not just with the captaincy but with my leg-spinning as well.

"I always thought we could win something this season. I was lucky in having experienced players such as Matt Horne to help me.

"Auckland teams have at times been criticised for the way they have played the game.

"Getting the right attitude and environment was my aim. "

Walker said he was a little surprised when Wellington captain Matthew Bell declared his team's second innings at 48 for one after adding only 38 yesterday morning.

Bell needed to give his bowlers enough time to bowl Auckland out, but knew that any wickets lost in setting the target would reduce the number of runs Auckland would need to win the championship.

Auckland, who last took the four-day title in the 1995-96 season, began shakily when first innings top-scorer Tim McIntosh was bowled by Andrew Penn without scoring.

But Horsley and debutante Rob Lynch got through to 36 before Lynch fell caught and bowled to Jeetan Patel for 20.

Sanjeewa Silva and Horsley then added 40 for the third wicket.

That was followed by the defining partnership between Horsley and an uncharacteristically nervous Tama Canning.

In a whirlwind stay - seven boundaries and a six in his 43 - Canning contributed more than half of the 84 runs for the fourth wicket.

When he fell, Auckland were just nine runs shy of the 169 target.

Horsley went on to complete a patient, but superbly-crafted century - 251 minutes, 186 balls - fittingly hitting the championship-winning runs along the way.

Auckland took the title by four points from Wellington in a championship race which began four months ago.

* The docile batting strip at the Village Green had the last say on the fourth day of Canterbury's game against Northern Districts yesterday.

With a draw inevitable, and several players in both teams injured or unwell, the umpires pulled stumps at tea with Canterbury on 213 for four in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 55.

Canterbury started the day at four without loss, 154 behind Northern Districts' imposing first innings of 496 for eight declared.

The home team had the lifeless pitch in their favour as they set out to draw the match and the top-order batsmen proved equal to the task.

Recalled New Zealand medium-fast bowler Daryl Tuffey, who claimed seven wickets in the first innings, broke through early when he trapped Aaron Redmond leg-before with the score at 16.

But opener Robbie Frew and Michael Papps restored the innings with a 98-run partnership for the second wicket, Papps hitting 11 boundaries in his 62 from 99 balls.

Frew batted more than three hours for his ninth first-class half-century, and after his dismissal for 58, Shanan Stewart and captain Gary Stead batted responsibly.

Stewart's 60 included nine fours and when he fell to Hamish Marshall, Stead and Peter Fulton safely batted to the tea break when it was decided that enough was enough.