Cricket: Last-over win to Auckland

By Terry Maddaford

NEW PLYMOUTH - The Auckland cricket team, seeking if not divine intervention then at least some understanding from New Zealand Cricket to keep their Shell Cup campaign on track after yesterday's nailbiting win over Central Districts, have been stymied in their bid to have their international quartet back to play Otago on Wednesday.

Auckland selectors showed their hand last week by naming Bryan Young, Dion Nash, Adam Parore and Chris Drum to play at Eden Park. New Zealand Cricket reacted quickly by ruling the internationals were not to play as they were keen to rest the Black Caps ahead of the upcoming tour by South Africa.

But Auckland Cricket chief executive Lindsay Crocker and NZC bosses yesterday reached a compromise which will see all four miss the game against Otago, but Young and Drum will be cleared to play Canterbury on Saturday and all four will be available for the last round-robin game, against the Northern Knights (all games at Eden Park) and any subsequent semifinal or final.

Auckland did themselves a huge favour by getting up against the odds to win by five wickets yesterday, but with just two balls to spare in the fading light at Pukekura Park.

With Northern Districts also winning in a late charge over Otago and Canterbury coasting home over Wellington, Northern have returned to sole charge at the top of the Shell Cup table with 10 points.

Auckland and Canterbury have joined Central Districts on eight points, Wellington have six and Otago, with only one win this season and only nine in their last 47 Cup games, have two. All have played seven of their 10 games.

The Pukekura Park clash yesterday had everything. With the match reduced to 45 overs a side because of rain, Central, with captain Craig Spearman leading the charge, flayed the Auckland attack and raced to 50 in just 38 minutes before Spearman played loosely and departed.

The innings lurched along with David Blake (31) and Glen Sulzberger (51) providing most resistance, while Auckland captain Blair Pocock was the surprise turn with the ball.

While competitive, Central's 201 for nine appeared 20 or so runs shy of a defendable total.

Not for long. Despite a horror first over from Andrew Penn - a no-ball followed by four wides before the first legitimate ball - the home side were quickly on top as the Aces slumped to 26 for three.

But Richard Jones, with the selector's axe poised, and Ian Billcliff set about the salvage job.

They added 103 at a run-a-minute with Billcliff - 67 runs including seven fours and two sixes - in sparkling form. He was the first to go when Rodney Brown gratefully accepted a skied caught and bowled chance. When Jones followed three runs later the Auckland stocks again slumped.

But Craig Pryor and Kyle Mills shrugged off the tension of the occasion, helped themselves to a regular diet of singles, twos a couple of boundaries and a six to get back into the frame.

Auckland needed 20 off three overs, 14 from two and nine from the last to win, which they did.