Cricket: Trophy final hopes fade as ND dig deeper hole

By Terry Maddaford

HAMILTON - Northern Districts dug themselves a huge hole on the first three days of their Shell Trophy must-win battle with Canterbury. By stumps last night it was a cavern - their hopes of a place in this week's final almost certainly gone.

The home team have been comprehensively outplayed by a Canterbury side well down on big names and firepower but huge on grit and determination. At 44 for five in their second innings - chasing 383 - Northern hopes were in tatters.

Otago, 195 for five at stumps at Alexandra's Molyneux Park last evening after
the first two and a half days had been lost to the weather, must gain a first innings win over Central Districts to host the final, starting Friday. If they don't then they head for Napier to play CD.

There was no weekend play in the game between Wellington and Auckland at the Petone Recreation Ground which ended any chance they might have entertained of grabbing a final spot.

Canterbury added only 14 runs to their first innings tally on Saturday morning to reach 275. A modest score in ideal conditions at WestpacTrust Park, but one which soon showed itself as being decidedly useful.

The ND top order crumbled - James Marshall and Mark Bailey gone before 16, Joseph Yovich and Hamish Marshall at 41 - the rest offered but token resistance as 24-year-old medium-pacer Chris Martin handed the Northern bowlers a lesson.
Whereas the ND attack had been wayward in line and length as Mark Priest and Warren Wisneski helped themselves to 144 runs in what should later today prove a match-winning partnership, Martin and Wisneski were on the spot.

Martin, in particular, was justly rewarded for bowling full and straight. He took four for 33 from almost 21 overs; Wisneski two for 38 from 13 as Northern struggled to 152.

Determined to at least give themselves some chance of reaching the final, Northern again had the visitors in early trouble at 49 for four. By stumps Marcel McKenzie and Hamish Barton had taken that to 60 without further loss.
Their partnership continued yesterday morning against a Northern attack which showed few signs of learning from their first innings shortcomings.

McKenzie was eventually run out - trapped when he wandered out of his ground - for 36; Barton amassed 62 in 207 minutes and Wisneski smacked 62 (12 boundaries) as Canterbury reached 259 and a lead of 382.

Chasing their target at a little over three runs an over, Northern could not have had a worse start.

James Marshall was well taken by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins from the first ball of the innings; Bailey scored one before being cleaned out by Martin; Yovich and Hamish Marshall added 30 for the third wicket before Yovich was snared by Mark Priest; Marshall followed 10 runs later and, without addition, Scott Styris.

At 41 for five the fragile Northern batting was again exposed. Martin, three for 13 - justly rewarded. And wily Priest, one for four from seven overs, was the perfect foil.