Cricket: Journey back from injury

CHRISTCHURCH - Andrew Hore's Shell Trophy cricket century for Otago at Village Green was as much a triumph over adversity as a measure of his dominance of the Canterbury bowling attack yesterday.

Hore's 102 not only placed Otago in a strong position - 272 runs ahead with six second innings wickets in hand - but laid to rest any lingering self-doubts that he could perform at first-class level.

Eleven years ago a 19-year-old Hore was cycling to cricket practice, on the brink of an outstanding all-round sporting career, when he was knocked over by a car and suffered serious head and neck injuries. It took him until 1995 to regain his cricketing confidence.

But before yesterday he had played only two first-class matches, batting at No 6 and managing a modest top score of 27. More recently he had forged a regular role as a Shell Cup opening batsman.

Otago selection convener Glenn Turner decreed Hore should also open in this Trophy campaign - switching Chris Gaffaney to the middle-order - and his theory paid rich dividends yesterday.

Earlier, Carl Anderson reached his maiden first-class half-century for Canterbury, leading a brave lower-order fight. - NZPA