Cricket: Rising stars spearhead win

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Rising Auckland cricket stars Tama Canning and Lou Vincent provided the spark which turned the enthralling Shell Cup one-day cricket match between Auckland and Otago at Eden Park yesterday.

Auckland won the game by five runs in a thrilling finish.

Needing six to win from the last ball, Shayne O'Connor teed off at Andre Adams, missed, and a relieved Auckland side celebrated the deeds of their two 23-year-olds and contemplated the remaining vital match against Canterbury at Eden Park tomorrow.

Otago skipper Robbie Lawson was certain Canning's innings of 84, at a time when Auckland struggled on a wicket that offered slow, low bounce, cost his side the game.

Canning made his runs from 89 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes with sublime power. With 19-year-old wicketkeeper Reece Young (23), he added 80 runs for the sixth wicket, and when the innings was completed at 218 for seven it seemed that Otago might struggle.

Otago lost Chris Gaffaney (3), Andrew Hore (11), Mark Richardson (0) and Karl O'Dowda for 33 inside 13 overs, and the 1100 spectators looked set to get home early.

Lawson has played many innings for Otago when he has needed to rescue the side from disaster.

Yesterday was another on the list. He had a tough and experienced competitor in Stephen Mather at the other end and by the time Lawson went, run out through the magic of Vincent, 116 had been added and Otago were back in the match.

Mather's dismissal for 64, the next wicket to fall, needed the irrepressible Vincent's hand again. Mather smashed the ball towards Vincent at shortish cover. With a degree of nonchalance that amazed even his team-mates, he plucked the rapidly rising ball out of the air in what skipper Blair Pocock said was the turning point of the game.

Pocock said he was concerned when Lawson and Mather had control during the middle part of the Otago innings.

"While I am delighted with the win, I was disappointed by the way we went about it. If the fielding had been any less brilliant than it was we might have been in real trouble."

Lawson heaped praise on his bowlers, especially offspinner Simon Forde, whose 10 overs produced two for 30.

Lawson called for the heavy roller before Otago batted.

"Everybody thought I was mad," he said. "It was a pretty unusual move, but it worked and I believe it took the last of the moisture out of the wicket.

"It was a pretty good track in the end."

It was the first time the couch grass block had been used this season and, given the recent flooding, it played reasonably well. The same wicket is likely to be used for the Canterbury match.

Chris Drum and Kyle Mills bowled well for Auckland, especially Drum, who ended with four for 28 from his 10 overs.