Cricket: Wellington so close to title

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Wellington and Northern Districts head to the Basin Reserve on Friday as the only teams with a chance of winning this season's Shell Trophy.

Results in the penultimate round which ended yesterday left Wellington six points clear over Northern at the top of the table. Any point - from a no result or a first innings lead - would be enough to give Wellington the title for the first time since the 1989-90 season.

Northern, who survived a much-interrupted, often painfully slow, day's play against Otago at WestpacTrust Park, denied Otago any chance in the weather-ruined match, and now have the opportunity to defend the title they won last season.

The odds are stacked against Northern, given their inconsistent efforts.

Northern will have to take a good, long look at themselves after being comprehensively outplayed by Otago.

Their top order frailties were exposed twice in this match by a steady, rather than menacing, Otago attack. Only some determined batting from Matthew Hart and Joseph Yovich after Northern had slumped to 89 for five - a lead of only six runs at that stage - saved the home side from what could have been an ignominious defeat.

Given the stop-start nature of the day's proceedings, Hart - who survived an imploring decision for a catch at the wicket off David Sewell that was turned down by umpire Robert Anderson - and Yovich did well to deny Otago the breakthrough they needed to keep their slim trophy hopes alive.

The Northern pair added 60 in 142 minutes in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership to get through to 149 for five, with 20 overs unbowled when the umpires called play off in murky light.

Canterbury showed resolve and determination to deny Central Districts outright victory in their Shell Trophy cricket match at Horton Park in Blenheim yesterday.

On an excellent batting pitch in sweltering heat, Central Districts could not dislodge Canterbury after a promising start. Beginning at 157 for four, 113 runs from making Central Districts bat again, Aaron Redmond and captain Gary Stead took Canterbury through to 241. Stead went on to make 79, and with Carl Anderson and Shane Bond sharing a record Canterbury eighth-wicket stand against Central Districts of 107 the game was called off at 5pm, with Canterbury 422 for eight.