Cricket: One-day series on a knife-edge

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The calculators are being warmed up as the race for places in the one-day playoffs heads for the wire.

Today's three State Shield matches in Hamilton, New Plymouth and Christchurch should go some way to sorting out the top three.

After leapfrogging to the top of the table on Wednesday, Canterbury and Auckland have a slight advantage. They meet in Sunday's crucial clash at Jade Stadium.

Canterbury, however, have a big lead in the run-rate stakes. Going into today's round they have a net run-rate of 0.639.

Of the remaining five teams only third-placed Central Districts have a positive run-rate (0.074).

Auckland, at minus 0.066, are next best.

The top team after Sunday's round will book their place in next weekend's final and have home advantage.

The second and third teams will play off in a semifinal on Wednesday.

With the Black Caps due to fly out for the World Cup on Tuesday or Wednesday, the teams involved in the semifinals and final will be without their internationals.

Auckland's Andre Adams will be ready for the World Cup, but will miss today's game against Northern Districts because of dental surgery.

All-rounder Craig Pryor, 12th man for Auckland on Wednesday when they beat Wellington in a last-over thriller, will probably play in Hamilton, with Sam Whiteman named in the 12.

"There is no point in looking at other games and teams in trying to work out what you have to do," Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said yesterday.

"Considering the positions on the points table, you would go mad trying to work things out.

"I'm much more concerned in what we do. As long as we start playing some consistent cricket - and I thought we showed signs of that against Wellington - I will be happy."

Northern have named an unchanged team, with the hope that Daniel Vettori, who missed Wednesday's game against Canterbury with a slight groin strain, will return.

It promises to be a test for Northern pace bowlers Ian Butler and Joseph Yovich, who were taken to by the Canterbury batsmen.

Chris Cairns scored all but one of his record-breaking 50 runs from 20 balls off Butler, including 29 in one over.

Butler went for one for 71 from seven overs.

Yovich, entrusted with the last over, conceded 29 from 4.2 overs with three wides.

The Hamilton game will be played on a new pitch.

In New Plymouth, Central Districts coach Mark Greatbatch wants to repay the Taranaki faithful with a win over Wellington.

Greatbatch will be out to erase past losses and post an overdue victory.

Taranaki cricket fans have turned up in numbers for the two one-dayers held in New Plymouth so far this summer.

But losses to Otago and Auckland at Pukekura Park after being in strong positions to win saw the crowds head home short-changed.

Greatbatch admitted his team had disappointed their fans in both matches and he was keen to repay them.

After coming away with two points from the rained-out game against Otago in Dunedin on Wednesday, Central head into today's match equal third with Wellington and Northern Districts.

They are ahead of both on run rate and one point behind Auckland and Canterbury.

Greatbatch said the return of New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram to the team on Wednesday to join the side's other international, Mathew Sinclair, had been a bonus.

"In the three or four days Jacob's been with us, he's had a very good input," Greatbatch said. "We'll have ... our top side on the park on Friday night with Jacob back."

Oram was denied the opportunity to show his batting skill in the match against Otago, having only just arrived at the crease when rain stopped play. However, the tall all-rounder had earlier made his mark with the ball, taking two wickets for 18 runs from his eight overs, including three maidens.

New Zealand opener Nathan Astle will use Canterbury's game against Otago at Jade Stadium to convince the national selectors he is fit enough for the World Cup.

"I want to get out there and get among the runs and let the selectors see where I'm at and what my fitness is like."

Astle this week confirmed he would need surgery on his left knee after the cup. He also notified his English county team, Derbyshire, that he would not play for them over the winter because he will need six months for rehabilitation.

"Derbyshire were fine when I informed them ... they understood my situation," he said.

"I just wanted to let them know as soon as possible so they had time to find a replacement."

Points after eight rounds (with net run-rate in brackets): Canterbury 19 (+0.639), Auckland 19 (-0.066), Central Districts 18 (+0.074), Northern Districts 18 (-0.141), Wellington 18 (-0.145), Otago 16 (-0.408).