Cricket: No 18 for Horne of plenty and not out, for a change

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Matt Horne scored an unbeaten century as Auckland cruised to their expected outright win over Central Districts on Eden Park's outer oval yesterday.

But Horne took more satisfaction in helping the Aces take maximum points from their State Championship opener than in any individual glory.

"It is one of my favourite grounds and I was just happy to get out and have a good start to the season," said Horne, who turns 31 next month.

"My aim when we went out this morning was to be not out at the end. The century was a bonus."

As far as an international recall is concerned, Horne said: "I haven't thought beyond next week's game. I would love to play internationally again but I'll only think about that if and when it comes.

"I'm going to enjoy my cricket."

Horne, in his first game for Auckland in six seasons after playing in Otago, was unbeaten on 108 when he and Aaron Barnes, who finished on 57, steered the home side to a convincing eight-wicket victory.

"I thought Aaron Barnes played the best first-class innings I have seen from him," said Horne. "We had a job to do and did it."

Auckland, resuming at 109 for two, needed a little more than two hours to hit the required runs.

Auckland coach Tony Sail took real satisfaction from the win.

"The emphatic way in which we won was very satisfying. It is not something Auckland teams have always done in the past.

"I'm very happy with the way we finished it off. Horne and Barnes batted with some class."

It was Horne's 18th first-class century but only the eighth time he has been unbeaten in 144 innings.

He hit 17 boundaries in his 276-minute stay.

The 151 the pair added for the third wicket was a record for Auckland against Central Districts - 10 runs better than John Kasper and Mark Burgess scored in Wanganui in the 1966-67 season.

Barnes batted for 183 minutes and hit seven boundaries and a six for his 57 not out.

Sail, not surprisingly, has named an unchanged 12 players for the next game against Wellington starting in the capital on Sunday.

* Double All Black Jeff Wilson seems certain to be on the sidelines for another cricket season, rather than in the middle.

Wilson, who last played for Otago in 1996-97, has had to put his cricket career on hold because of the demands of professional rugby.

There had been speculation that Wilson might make himself available for cricket after his omission from the All Blacks' end-of-year tour.

But Otago coach Glenn Turner said yesterday that he and Wilson had not discussed a possible return to cricket.

"I'm not aware Jeff has any plans to play again," Turner said. "He's dropped into Carisbrook because he knows some of the guys and I guess he was just interested in having a look."

Meanwhile, paceman Kerry Walmsley will test his injured hamstring today before the Otago team are finalised to travel to Christchurch for their match against Canterbury starting on Sunday.

Left-armer Bradley Scott seems certain to be in the 12 if Walmsley does not come through the test.

Northern Districts administered the last rites over Otago in 14.1 overs after they resumed, 30 minutes late because of rain, at 67 for one in their second innings, in pursuit of 98 for maximum points.

James Marshall was trapped leg before wicket by Craig Pryor after adding five to his overnight 25 but Matthew Hart and Mark Bailey steered Northern Districts to victory without further loss.

Northern Districts next play Central Districts in Blenheim, starting on Sunday.

* In Rangiora, Wellington made a determined effort to reach 410 for an outright win over Canterbury, but fell 102 runs short with three second-innings wickets in hand.

Former Auckland batsman Richard Jones provided the backbone with a classy 101.