Cricket: Horne, Cunis grab honours

DUNEDIN - Former international Bob Cunis did considerable damage to Otago during his playing days and his son Stephen followed suit as Canterbury regained some lost ground in their Shell Trophy cricket match in Alexandra yesterday.

The medium-fast bowler achieved career-best figures of five for 59 with sheer persistence and accuracy, as Otago were dismissed for 279, giving them a first innings lead of 78.

After resuming at 57 for one, it seemed Otago could bat Canterbury out of the game as Matt Horne and Craig Cumming settled into their second-wicket partnership of 160 in 202 minutes.

But Cumming was caught behind two balls after reaching his 50 and Horne was becalmed for 20 balls after reaching his century, before he was caught at short leg for 100.

Chris Gaffaney, who again looked in superb touch, scored 44 off 76 balls with some handsome front-foot driving before he became the first of Cunis' victims when wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins dived to his right for a fine catch.

Otago had to eke out every run after the dismissals of Horne, Cumming and Gaffaney - and Cunis was the major cause.

He initially bowled 14 overs without reward.

But his next 10 yielded five wickets for 30 runs as, bowling with the breeze behind him, he cut a swathe through the Otago middle and lower order.

He had Andrew Hore caught behind after a promising innings of 22, Martyn Croy well caught low down at first slip, Craig Pryor adjudged leg-before and Paul Wiseman undone the same way.

Otago lost five wickets for 82 in the afternoon session and their last four wickets for 45 after the tea break.

Shayne O'Connor trapped opener Harley James leg-before in the 11th over when Canterbury batted again, but Cunis, this time in the role of nightwatchman, popped up again as he and Robbie Frew saw their side through to 41 for one at stumps.

Horne had mixed emotions last night. He was pleased to have scored his 16th first-class century, but disappointed Otago had not taken a firmer grip on the game.

It was his first century since the first test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last September and gave him considerable satisfaction. "My form's been a bit mixed since then. It was nice to spend four hours at the crease, but it was a shame to get out when I did.

"We'd just got another partnership going and Chris Gaffaney and I were going along relatively nicely. But that happens, I suppose, and I'm just happy to get three figures."

Horne believes he is striking the ball better than he has for some time.

"Maybe I'm a bit freer with my strokeplay. You've got to have a positive outlook and it's the same with anything you do. Life's all about confidence."

- NZPA