Cricket: Timid start by Auckland in championship decider

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

Auckland hardly fired a shot in meandering through the first day of their championship decider against Wellington at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

Wellington played positively after captain Matthew Bell won the toss, reaching 329 for five.

With a better than a run-a-ball start from Chris Nevin and Bell, Wellington seized the early initiative from an Auckland attack, which at times appeared uninterested.

Nevin gave his side the start they needed before he fell caught and bowled for 50 by young part-time offspinner Rob Nicol, the sixth bowler used in the first session by Auckland captain Brooke Walker. Bell and James Franklin continued that positive attitude in steering their side through to 151 for two in the morning session at almost four runs an over.

It was a disappointing effort from the Auckland attack.

Gareth Shaw, given only two overs of the 39 overs bowled before lunch - at a cost of 14 runs - deserved another chance.

But Walker used himself in the hope of getting a vital breakthrough. After lunch it was more of the same.

Bell went on to score 80 (165 minutes, 140 balls and 15 well-struck boundaries) before Walker convinced umpire Brent Bowden he had trapped Bell in front.

The 21-year-old Franklin assumed the senior role and was justly rewarded with his highest first-class score.

En route to his well-compiled 73, Franklin posted his first half-century - 107 minutes, 112 balls - and shared in a 109-run stand for the fourth wicket with Grant Donaldson, who became the fourth Wellington batsman to reach 50.

Donaldson fell to Andre Adams after the second new ball was taken.

Adams had earlier trundled down a few overs of off-spin before switching ends and returning to medium-pace mode to pick up the wickets of Donaldson and then Franklin, who did not play a shot.

Shaw, kept out of the action until the post-tea session, came back to bowl well, conceding just 20 overs from nine overs.

After Leighton Morgan retired hurt after copping one in the face from Adams, Luke Woodcock and Mark Jefferson saw Wellington through to stumps.

To their credit, Auckland did not play hard ball.

In getting through 107 overs - seven more than their requirement - they gave Wellington every chance to play themselves into a winning position.

If the visitors can bat through two sessions today they will be well placed to kick on, perhaps even to the extent of dismissing Auckland twice and giving themselves a chance of snatching an unexpected championship triumph.

* Canterbury were solidly placed at 284 for seven at stumps on the opening day against Northern Districts in Christchurch.

Northern had hopes of being well on top when fast-medium bowler Daryl Tuffey snared three wickets in the space of 12 deliveries to have Canterbury 122 for five.

But captain Gary Stead and Peter Fulton put on 130 for the sixth wicket, making 56 and 66 respectively. Tuffey finished with six for 46.

* Bottom side Otago gave Central Districts a fright in their match at Napier, dismissing the home side for 178.

New-ball pair Kerry Walmsley and Craig Pryor took four wickets apiece.

But by stumps, Otago were in difficulty at 59 for three. Opener Chris Gaffeney was unbeaten on 33.