Cricket: Top NZ players make Twenty20 a crowd-pleaser

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said 'You have to go back to the heydays of the old Shell Cup to see crowds of similar size for domestic cricket.' Photo / Getty Images

It is probably wise to keep the powder dry until the final ball is bowled and the last dollars are counted, but the domestic Twenty20 is looking a winner this summer.

Healthy crowds have been a feature of the opening four rounds of the HRV Cup.

Northern Districts drew 4500 to the cup opener against Auckland at the holiday hotspot of Mt Maunganui on January 2, then just on 5000 for the game against Otago at the same place the following day.

Auckland had about 1800 and around 3500 to their first two home games at Colin Maiden Park, against Canterbury and Central Districts.

Elsewhere, the numbers make happy reading for the game's administrators, both national and provincial.

"The crowds are more than double what we've had in the past," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said.

"You have to go back to the heydays of the old Shell Cup [50-over competition] to see crowds of similar size for domestic cricket."

Having New Zealand's top players involved, playing in their provincial colours, has been a key element in Vaughan's mind.

"My personal opinion is that rather than turning out to see the Graham Napiers, Owais Shahs or Ravi Boparas [overseas imports], they are much more interested is seeing Daniel Vettori playing Brendon McCullum playing Ross Taylor," Vaughan said. "Being able to see them in their provincial colours against each other, I think, is really attractive."

Auckland chief executive Andrew Eade has been "absolutely delighted". He recalled the 2007 Twenty20 final Auckland hosted on the Eden Park outer oval as being "chocka", but outside that, the crowd at game two against leaders Central Districts "would be the most we've had in Auckland domestic cricket for 10 years".

ND boss David Cooper believes four factors have contributed to the success of the early rounds of the cup.

"Obviously the Black Caps are making a difference, going hand-in-hand with the overseas players," he said.

"The venues have been ideal, particularly at the beginning of the competition.

"They've been taking it round the country and not saturating one particular market; the time of year is ideal, and it gives domestic cricket some impetus, where it's not up against international cricket; and the carrot at the end of it [the winner qualifies for the lucrative Champions League in India].

"To a lot of people it actually means this game is being taken seriously."

Cooper noted that the turnstiles had been clicking across the country, and not confined to particular pockets or teams.

The number of tight finishes hasn't hurt the public interest either. Of the 11 games played before last night's Otago-ND game in Invercargill, five have had what could be classified as exciting conclusions.

ND's five-run win in the cup opener at Mt Maunganui set the benchmark; Canterbury beat Auckland on the second-last ball at Colin Maiden Park on January 4; CD held off Otago by one run at New Plymouth's picturesque if postage stamp-sized Pukekura Park; Auckland saw off Wellington by two runs last Friday; and Bradley Scott's six off the final ball enabled ND to chase down Canterbury with the final pair at the crease in Christchurch last Sunday.

Auckland have retained the same 12 from the convincing win over CD for their game against Wellington at Colin Maiden Park today, plus adding in international batsman Martin Guptill, who is over a hamstring twinge.

Wellington have kept the same 12 from their washed out game against Otago in Dunedin last Sunday.

In today's other game, Canterbury host CD at Timaru.

Otago opened the fifth round with a 10-run win over Northern Districts at Invercargill yesterday to overtake Central Districts at the top of the table.

A 56 not out off 32 balls by skipper Craig Cumming, coming in at No3, helped boost Otago's score to 160 for three after he won the toss and decided to bat first at Queen's Park.

In reply, Northern Districts mustered 150 for eight in their 20 overs.

The win took Otago to 14 points, two ahead of Central Districts who play bottom-placed Canterbury at Timaru today, while Auckland host Wellington at Colin Maiden Park.

A composed 34 off 30 balls by Hamish Rutherford followed by a breezy 92-run third wicket stand between Neil Broom, 41 off 37 balls, and Cumming steered Otago to a respectable score.

Northern were 62 for four at the halfway mark of their innings after they were unable to patch together solid partnerships in the face of some accurate bowling.

AUCKLAND V WELLINGTON
Colin Maiden Park, Glen Innes, 5pm today

Auckland: (from) Gareth Hopkins (c), Martin Guptill, Lou Vincent, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris, Anaru Kitchen, Reece Young, Colin de Grandhomme, Ronnie Hira, Bhupinder Singh, Daryl Tuffey, Michael Bates, Greg Morgan.

Wellington: (from) Matthew Bell (c), Cam Merchant, BJ Crook, Chris Nevin, Owais Shah, Neal Parlane, Luke Woodcock, James Franklin, Dewayne Bowden, Mark Houghton, Jeetan Patel, Andy McKay.