Cricket: Parore's gloves help Auckland grasp initiative

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Adam Parore put himself under the microscope at Eden Park yesterday and after a useful effort behind the stumps was happy with what he saw.

Under some pressure since the New Zealand cricket wicketkeeping merry-go-round chugged into action last week, Parore turned out for Auckland in their Shell Trophy clash against old rivals Canterbury and reminded the pretenders he is not done with just yet.

Back to his chipper self, moving with ease and gloving the ball nicely, Parore helped steer Auckland into the driving seat on the first day of the match.

He took just one catch, to dismiss Craig McMillan, gave up no byes and generally looked neat and alert in all he did.

"I felt as good as I have in a long time," said Parore after Canterbury had been bundled out for 187, of which Aaron Redmond (72) contributed the major share. "Having a few days off to freshen up seems to have worked. I felt relaxed and comfortable and enjoyed it."

Comfortable that is in all but the decision by umpire Evan Watkin when Parore appeared to have taken a catch off Brooke Walker to dismiss Carl Anderson. While Ness Khan, standing at square leg, declined the stumping appeal, Watkin decided there had been no catch either.

National selection panel convener Ross Dykes was at the ground but made it clear he was not there just for Parore.

"Adam kept well but that wasn't the reason I came," said Dykes. "We are not going to make judgments over two days of a trophy match.

"He knows Chris Nevin took his place [in the last two one-day internationals] and did well. While that might not be enough to earn a place in the test side, it at least shows he has opened another avenue."

It was a disappointing effort from the southerners with the strongest team they have fielded in trophy play this season.

After winning the toss and taking first use of the outer oval pitch, they quickly went into their all-too-familiar first innings spiral.

At 46 for four - when McMillan nicked one off Kyle Mills - they were in trouble. When Chris Harris, Stephen Fleming and Gareth Hopkins went soon after lunch they were headed for disaster.

Only Redmond and Anderson showed much resolve against the steady Auckland attack. Tama Canning, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams and Aaron Barnes were justly rewarded with a couple of wickets each. Walker bowled well without reward but his sharp fielding saw Anderson run out.

Auckland did not find the same demons in the Canterbury attack, getting through the mandatory 23 overs before stumps at 49 without loss.