Cricket: Slim lead gives whiff of victory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A lead of 129 might not seem much, but with a few more runs as the second innings of their match against Northern Districts winds down, Auckland could be in a position to push for their third outright of the season today.

The State Championship leaders have played second fiddle for most of the match at WestpacTrust Park - a game hit by weather delays on the first three days.

But by stumps last night, Auckland - at 189 for six - had played themselves back into calculation.

In many ways it has been a game of "not quites".

No batsman has scored a century and only Andre Adams has managed a five-wicket bag.

Northern's satisfaction came in securing first innings points after reaching 230 and a lead of 60.

The weather served to only slow the pace of the game.

The Northern attack, blighted by 36 no balls, struggled to hit top gear and by the close of play the side were left with the prospect of a hefty fine for not reaching the minimum 15 overs an hour requirement.

With the bat, they barely scored 2.3 runs an over.

When play did resume an hour late yesterday, Northern quietly took their overnight 146 for six to the 171 they needed for a first innings lead, thanks to the 90-run seventh wicket partnership between Grant Bradburn and Joseph Yovich.

Adams, five for 70 from 31 overs of bustling medium pace, carried most of the workload but later, complaining of sore shoulders, said he probably had a few overs too many.

Mark Haslam, out of the attack until the death, showed his left-arm spin could have been useful earlier when he claimed Daryl Tuffey and Yovich for one run.

Auckland, with the prospect of batting one short because Nick Horsley is in doubt after being concussed s by a fiery Ian Butler delivery on the first day, again lost Reece Young early.

Tim McIntosh and Aaron Barnes batted for 99 minutes for a second-wicket partnership of 56, but with a lead at that point of only five runs, Auckland were still struggling. Bradburn, with 10 overs of wily off-spin for 10 runs, slowed their progress.

At the close, and after useful contributions from McIntosh (37 in 181 minutes), Tama Canning (34) and Kyle Mills (33 not out), they must feel they have some chance on a wearing pitch which has lost some pace.

By taking his sixth catch of the match to dismiss Canning, wicketkeeper Robbie Hart closed to within one of Bryan Young's Northern record of 179.

That wicket gave Yovich his eighth for the match. But his 19 no balls, took some of the shine from his 42-over stint.

* An unbeaten double century by Central Districts batsman Ben Smith has set up an intriguing final day's play against Canterbury at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth today.

Once the English county professional raised his 200 yesterday, Central Districts captain Glen Sulzberger declared the team's innings at 336 for five to concede a first innings deficit of 92 runs.

By stumps Canterbury had progressed to 102 for four to give them an overall advantage of 194 runs.

The home side resumed this morning on 166 for three, with Smith already on 102, his 24th first-class century. He went on to the second double century of his career, hitting 28 boundaries and offering two chances, once when he was in the 70s and later when on 156.



Smith's innings could not have been better timed. Before this match, he had scored only 32 runs from six innings for Central Districts.

"I haven't had the best of starts this season," he said.

"I didn't give myself the best preparation, but I've worked hard."

* Otago are strongly placed going into the final day of their match against Wellington at Carisbrook.

They were 175 for five in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 324, after Wellington declared at 213 for six - fast bowler Andrew Penn the top-scorer with 66 - conceding a 149-run advantage.

Opener Brendon McCullum, tipped for a call-up to the national one-day side this week, helped his chances with a whirlwind 60 from 39 balls yesterday. Andrew Hore was unbeaten on 48.