Cricket: ND maintain hold over Aucklanders

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

The hex which the Northern Districts cricket team enjoyed over Auckland in Shell Trophy matches last season was set to continue after the third day of their latest clash at Hamilton yesterday.

At stumps, Northern, chasing 173 for victory, were 91 for three after Auckland had been dismissed for 204 in their second innings.

At 103 for six and with a lead of only 71, Auckland were heading for another hiding by a Northern Districts side who thrashed them by 267 runs in last season's Shell Trophy final after beating them by an innings and 45 runs in round-robin play.

A 52-run fightback for the seventh wicket between Tama Canning and Aaron Barnes gave Auckland some slight hope after another disappointing effort by the top order.

Richard King added only three runs to his overnight 33 before falling to Simon Doull - his 100th first-class wicket for Northern.

While Doull removed the top order, Graeme Aldridge ripped the heart from the Auckland batting.

He bowled Lou Vincent, trapped Dion Nash leg before and later removed the gritty Barnes, also trapped in front, for 45.

There was plenty to admire in the Northern bowling.

Joseph Yovich had only the scalp of nightwatchman Mark Haslam to show for his 20 overs, but he displayed genuine pace in complementing Doull and Aldridge.

With Auckland dismissed after 345 minutes, Northern needed 173 for victory, with all the time in the world to get them.

By the end of the day they must have been grateful time was not an issue.

After losing Michael Parlane to yet another leg-before call by umpire Barry Frost for two, Marshall and Mark Bailey added 62 before Canning, the sixth bowler used by Auckland captain Blair Pocock, claimed Marshall for 23.

Neal Parlane followed quickly, but through it all, in-form Bailey stood firm.

He scored 43 in a patient 166-minute stay to see Northern through to stumps.

Scoring the remaining 82 they now need for maximum points should be achieved in the first session today, but the visitors entertain other ideas and, for sure, are not out of it.

In Wanganui, coach Dipak Patel was rapt with his inexperienced bowling attack after Central Districts beat Otago by nine wickets.

Victory was achieved with a day and a session to spare after Otago were dismissed for 139 in their second innings, leaving Central a winning target of just 35.

"To take 20 wickets as cheaply as they have done is a credit to all four of them," Patel said.

Seamers Ewen Thompson, college student Greg Todd and Gareth West all made their first-class debuts with Central.

But yesterday belonged to the most experienced of the team's medium pacers, Michael Mason, who had career-best figures of five for 44.

He bowled seven maidens from his 21 overs, and he took the prize wicket of international opener Matt Horne, whose 73 posed the only threat to Central Districts.

Mason's performance was good news after an off-season operation for a shoulder problem which resulted in a cyst being taken out from the joint.

Patel said he would assess Mason today before deciding whether to play him in the Shell Cup match against Otago tomorrow.

"We would like to get him fully fit by Christmas. He's about 85 to 90 per cent now."

Patel has taken Glen McGlashan and Thompson out of the trophy side and replaced them with Sanjeewa Silva and Andrew Schwass for the cup contest.

Mark Douglas will keep wickets.

Patel said the changes were made for the one-dayer because of the all-round abilities Silva and Schwass added to the team.

Otago coach Denis Aberhart said that apart from Horne, his batsmen had got themselves out with poor shot selection.

Aberhart has also made two changes for the one-day match, with Lee Germon coming in and taking over the captaincy, and Ian Billcliff also joining the side.

James McMillan and David Sewell give up their places.