Cricket: 'Harry' is happy as Larry

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Rookie Canterbury cricket captain Chris Harris has a one-from-one winning start at the helm of New Zealand's most successful Shell Cup side, but faces a tough task if he wants to improve that at Blake Park in Mt Maunganui today.

Like his Northern Districts counterpart, Robbie Hart, Harris lost the toss in his team's first-round Shell Cup game against Otago but came out a winner as he scored an unbeaten 90 in steering his side to a five-wicket victory with a ball to spare.

Today's game, to be played on the same pitch on which Northern beat Central Districts on Tuesday, has become an early top-of-the- table clash in which Canterbury must reverse last season's loss at the same ground.

Auckland, the other first-round winners, will be out to keep pace with a win in their second home game, against Central Districts on Eden Park's outer oval, while first-round losers Otago and Wellington will chase their first points in Alexandra.

Harris and his team-mates wasted little time on their arrival in Tauranga yesterday to check out the Blake Park pitch.

"I expect it will be a bit slow and low but we have a score to settle," said Harris. "It is a toss I would like to win obviously. With it likely to get lower and slower as the day goes on, it is a case of wanting to bat first and dictate from there."

Harris, who is marking time before his inevitable recall to the New Zealand side for the one-day internationals against the West Indies, is making the most of his chance to make a worthwhile contribution to Canterbury cricket.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying it," said Harris, one of New Zealand's most favoured cricketing sons. "The players have been really supportive. It was nice to be there at the end [in the win over Otago] and feel I was contributing."

Northern, in front of a disappointingly small crowd on a great day for cricket on Tuesday, produced a solid, all-round effort in seeing off CD.

While opening batsman Michael Parlane produced the man-of-the-match performance in hitting his unbeaten, and patient, 80 there were worthwhile back-up efforts from Neal Parlane who shared a 56-run, 69-minute, third-wicket partnership with his brother and another Northlander Alex Tait who chipped in with an unbeaten 21 at the death.

Tait, who was a trifle disappointing in his first bowling spell, came back well to have Andrew Penn expertly stumped by Hart to claim his 100th Shell Cup wicket.

With Mark Bailey certain to return to the Northern Xl today after serving a two-match suspension, the selectors must decide which two players will miss out.

Auckland coach Tony Sail was happy to pocket two points against Wellington but spoke of a "pretty poor batting performance" by both sides.

Sail has other concerns with a bug hitting the side. Wicketkeeper-batsman Lou Vincent missed yesterday's training and former Canterbury and New Zealand opening batsman Llorne Howell is also suffering.

Blair Pocock, who passed a rigorous fitness test before taking his place in the season opener after injuring a rib in the game against the West Indies, will again play today but bat at No 6 rather than the top of the order.

The game at Eden Park starts at 11 am and the game between ND and Canterbury at Blake Park an hour later.