Cricket: Victory at last for struggling Auckland

Anaru Kitchen combined with Lou Vincent to put on 101 for the fifth wicket. Photo / Richard Robinson

Wellington monstered their chance of victory in their Twenty20 match at the Basin Reserve yesterday, losing four wickets in the last three overs as Auckland held on for a narrow two-run win.

Auckland notched up their first victory in three games, battling well after losing four early wickets to reach an imposing 169 for five.

In reply, Wellington could find no answer to some impressive bowling at the death from Darryl Tuffey, Michael Bates and Colin De Grandhomme, falling just short at 167 for nine.

Wellington had looked out for the count at seven for three after just two overs, then lost two more wickets to be 63 for five going into the 10th over.

But James Franklin revived Wellington hopes when he combined with Chris Nevin for a 90-run sixth-wicket stand which almost won the game.

The removal of Nevin on 41 off 24 balls, with 17 balls remaining and 17 runs required, proved pivotal.

Bates removed Lance Woodcock three runs later, then Franklin was gone the following ball for 72, the fine edge adjudged to have been taken behind the stumps by Reece Young.

Jeetan Patel survived the hat-trick, but Wellington's tailenders were well tied down in the final over by de Grandhomme, who trapped Mark Houghton in front with four balls remaining to all but ensure the win.

Tuffey was particularly impressive, returning figures of 3-19 from his four overs, with Bates equally effective on 3-24.

Earlier, former international Lou Vincent did his hopes of a New Zealand recall no harm at all with an aggressive and well-timed 58.

Vincent, back in New Zealand for a six-week stint after playing in England recently, was the rock Auckland needed early on as they teetered at 62 for four in the 10th over.

He lost fellow opener Reece Young early in the fourth over with the score on 26, run out for 15 after a sharp Owais Shah throw found James Franklin in good position.

Wickets fell regularly after that, Ravi Bopara going for nine and Scott Styris 10 before Gareth Hopkins was run out for one at the midway mark.

Vincent held firm, and combined in devastating fashion with Anaru Kitchen to put 101 on for the fifth wicket.

Vincent was removed with five balls to go, stumped by Nevin off Patel.

His 58 came from 48 balls, including three fours and two sixes, with Kitchen's unbeaten 61 off 41 equally impressive as he peppered the boundary with seven fours and a six.

Canterbury v OtagoOtago roared back from an agonising defeat to revive their title defence with a 43-run victory in Christchurch.

All Otago's bowlers did the job for their captain Craig Cumming as they skittled the home side for 116 in the 18th over. It was Otago's second win from three matches.

Paceman Neil Wagner did the early damage, removing Rob Nicol and Michael Papps cheaply before Otago's spin duo Nick Beard and Nathan McCullum put Canterbury on the ropes.

Left-armer Beard took two for 25 and McCullum two for 26 off their four-over spells, while wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder was in top form with four catches and a stumping of Andrew Ellis off Nathan McCullum.

Dean Brownlie was the only home batsman to top 20 with a willing knock of 33 off 26 balls, including two fours and a six, before he was bowled by Otago's Pakistani import Yasir Arafat.

Wagner cleaned up the final Canterbury wicket to finish with the best figures of three for 21 off three overs.

Neil Broom was the star of Otago's total of 159 for seven with a rapid 58 before he was chopped down by Canterbury paceman Ryan Burson amid an excellent spell of four for 16.

Broom hit two fours and four sixes in his 37-ball knock before he became one of Burson's three victims in the space of four deliveries in the final over. Burson also took the catch to remove dangerman Brendon McCullum for 23, off the bowling of Ellis.

Thanks to their consistent top-four, Otago made a solid start and were well set up at 129 for two in the 17th over before Cumming's dismissal for 22 by Burson saw five wickets fall for 29.

CD V ND

Another Ross Taylor onslaught and a sharp early spell from Graham Napier helped Central Districts remain unbeaten with a 19-run win in New Plymouth.

Central made it three from three at Pukekura Park as they restricted Northern to 165 for eight off their 20 overs.

Central's total of 184 was enough as Taylor's 53 - his third 40-plus score in as many innings - left Northern needing more than nine an over.

The visitors started disastrously, with English import Napier removing New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori for nought, and his test teammate Daniel Flynn for six, in consecutive overs.

Northern threatened a fightback through former international James Marshall who hit 53 off 36 balls, adding 69 with Peter McGlashan.

But a masterstroke from Central captain Jamie How swung the match back his side's way when he introduced allrounder George Worker to the bowling crease.

Worker removed McGlashan for 15 and Marshall in consecutive deliveries in the 12th over to leave Northern reeling at 92 for five.

Napier ended with two for 19 off four overs, Worker took two for nine off a solitary over while allrounder Jacob Oram backed up his New Zealand record five for 14 on Wednesday with two for 29 off four.

Central will try to remain unbeaten with their first away game against Auckland tomorrow.

- NZPA