Cricket: Vettori happy with progress

By CHRIS RATTUE

A cautious Daniel Vettori has declared he is making good progress in his comeback from a back injury after almost helping steer Northern Districts to an unlikely Shell Cup victory in Whangarei.

Canterbury prevailed by four wickets on a below-standard pitch at Cobham Oval, in a match shortened to 43 overs each because of early morning rain.

With Chris Harris steadying the Canterbury ship, the visitors won with two overs to spare in their chase for 135.

It was bad news for cup leaders Northern, although they still lead the competition and the race for top spot in the three-team finals series. But it appeared to be more good news for the national selectors, as they monitor Vettori's progress back from a back stress fracture.

After returning to top action against Otago in the cup last week, Vettori bowled a further nine overs yesterday taking the wickets of Nathan Astle and Aaron Redmond for 23 runs.

It was admittedly a wicket suited to his left arm finger spin but Vettori said afterwards he was pleased with his return so far.

He believes a return to international one-day cricket will probably be an easier journey than tests, where he would be required to bowl more overs.

New Zealand's one-day campaign resumes on January 31 against Sri Lanka in Napier, while the three-match test series against Pakistan begins in Auckland on March 8.

"I don't want to push things and have the same problem all over again," Vettori said in Whangarei. "I will be able to tell people more at the end of these four one-day games. Every game is another step back for me and I feel I'm making good progress."

With two rounds to go in the cup, Northern Districts' lead has been narrowed to three points though they are sure of a finals place.

Northern came unstuck on a sticky wicket in Whangarei, where they had the worst of the batting conditions after Canterbury won the toss and bowled.

The holding wicket made stroke play a treacherous art and Canterbury looked as though they had made a hash of the small run chase until Harris took command.

Even then, Northern helped Canterbury along with three dropped catches. Wicketkeeper Robbie Hart and Alex Tait, from his own bowling, put down tough chances off Harris and Craig McMillan. Harris, who went on to an unbeaten 43, was on two when Hart, standing up to the medium pace of Tait, missed the catch.

But a far easier miss that really hurt Northern came when Hopkins, who shared a crucial matchwinning partnership with Harris, hit Grant Bradburn straight to Mark Bailey at deep backward square leg when he was on four, and Canterbury were on 93 for five.

Hopkins went on to help see Canterbury to within six runs of victory.

Canterbury had Northern at 87 for eight but veteran Bradburn organised a guard action with 47 from 108 deliveries. The Canterbury chase suffered major blows when Astle chipped a delivery from Vettori to mid on, and McMillan fell to an awful reverse sweep.