5th Match: Otago v Auckland at Alexandra, 30 Dec 2002 CricInfo Live Report

5th Match: Otago v Auckland at Alexandra, 30 Dec 2002
Warwick Larkins

Otago innings: End of match,
Auckland innings: 1st Drinks, End of innings,
Pre-game: Scene set,

OTAGO TOP ORDER FIRES FOR BONUS POINT WIN.
At 5.25pm after drinks the State Otago Volts batting pair of Craig Cumming and Robbie Lawson resumed their chase for 247 for victory in slightly cooler conditions than most of the day had been so far. The State Auckland Aces bowling attack had not escaped unscathed but with a new pair at the crease and Mohammed Wasim and Andrew Hore safely back in the pavilion they had perked up their actions and now jauntily ran into bowl.

Nineteen overs completed and Otago 116/2 ( Cumming 4 no ; Lawson 11 no ; )

Tama Canning with 56 runs off his 7 overs had been justifiably rested and Matthew Horne and Craig Pryor were now shouldering the Auckland bowling responsibility. Horne the younger brother of the former NZ Cricket and Badminton representative Phil Horne was bowling from the scoreboard end of Molyneux Park while Pryor son of Auckland Rugby Union great Albie Pryor occupied the southern end. Still the runs came with Cumming and Lawson getting into a very acceptable stride from an Otago point of view.

23 overs gone- Otago 150/2 (Cumming 16 no ; Lawson 29 no ; ) -their 50 partnership came up from 62 balls. 4 overs later and the score had reached 170/2 with Cumming 33 and Lawson 35. Otago were running hot- their supporters held their breath's-too often victories had been close in recent seasons only to be thwarted in a variety of ways. Brooke Walker the Auckland Captain was now bowling his right arm leg spinners and the Otago scoring slowed just a tad initially but then a flurry of scoring saw the total mount to 188/2 after 30 overs ( Cumming 46 no ; Lawson 36no ; )

Otago now needed 59 from 20 overs but first Cumming reached his 50 in 84 minutes from 53 balls ( 9 fours). The Otago 200 came up in 130 minutes from 190 deliveries. After 32 overs the score had reached 211/2 and the crowd revelled in the situation. Walker with 29 from four had proved expensive as had Aaron Barnes with 18 from two. Auckland used its eighth bowler when Ron Nicol was brought into the attack but although only 4 from his first over , no wicket. Auckland were now desperate-they not only needed a wicket but also needed to stem the Otago run flow as the possibility of a batting bonus point became evident if victory was achieved by the 40th over.

34 overs completed and Otago 221/2 ( Cumming 70no ; Lawson 44no ; )

Cumming, unfortunately would not have enought runs to play with to have the possibility of achieving a one day hundred but nevertheless marched on to 75 while Lawson did have a chance of getting 50 ,as he was on 46. Rob Nicol fielding on the cover boundary however made a stunning catch to dismiss Cumming for 75 and Otago lost its third wicket with the total at 228. Just 19 required for victory.

Craig Pryor was brought back into the attack from the scoreboard end and Lawson soon got his fifty with the Otago total now at 234/3.

It advanced to 241 when Lawson slogged at a ball from Pryor in an attempt to secure the batting bonus point-four resulted and then two more consecutive fours gave Otago victory by 7 wickets and a batting bonus point. Lawson remained 63 not out, while Warren McSkimming was on 4. It had been an impressive batting performance from Otago against an Auckland attack which had been made look rather ordinary. No Otago batsman had failed on a very hot afternoon at Molyneux Park.

Auckland Bowling-

Richard Morgan 7-0-29-2 ; Andre Adams 6-1-28-1; Tama Canning 7-0-56-0 ; Matthew Horne 5-0-25-0 ; Craig Pryor 5.4-0-45-0 ; Brooke Walker 5-0-35-0; Aaron Barnes 2-0-18-0 ; Rob Nicol 1-0-4-0.

AUCKLAND REVIVE AFTER DRINKS BREAK
Just 16 overs to go in the State Auckland Aces innings and at 115/3 they will be wanting to up the tempo. This is of course quite obvious to any student of the game but as the Otago bowlers plug on it's obvious that they have other ideas. The Otago ground fielding is resolute and sure and this gives any bowler extra heart.

Over No 37 sees Nathan Morland the Otago off spinner reintroduced into the attack and the total rose by nine. Auckland 132/3 ( Rob Nicol 25no ; Aaron Barnes 19 no ;)

Warren McSkimming who had only conceeded 28 from his 8 overs was brought back only to go for 11 in over No 38 , including a dropped catch by Andrew Hore on the square leg boundary from Barnes. The 40th over produced 7 runs and the Auckland total reached 150 from 239 balls. McSkimming had completed his 10 overs at a cost of 39 runs, capturing the wicket of Mark Richardson.

Auckland were starting to " go for the doctor" as Morland was hit for a six by Barnes. 160/3 from 41 overs. Jeff Wilson was not exempt from some tap either when in Over 42 he went for 13. Auckland 174/3. ( Barnes 49 no ; Nicol 40 no ; )

Morland was bowling when Barnes reached his 50 off fifty balls with 5 fours and 1 six, but it was Jeff Wilson again who captured the next Auckland wicket when he had Nicol caught by keeper McGlashan for 41. Auckland 179/4. ...... and three balls later the GOlden One struck again trapping Aaaron Barnes in front for 50. Auckland 184/5 after 44 overs ( Tama Canning 5 no ; Andre Adams 0 no ; )

Canning who has been a thorn in Otago's side for the last couple of encounters didn't last long today when he tried to loft one over the Otago captains head at wide mid on and Craig Cumming took a straight forward catch. Canning had made 7 and Auckland were 185/6.

Craig Pryor ,another former Otago player joined Adams -they had 5 overs to bat and to attempt to lift Aucklands score to over the 200 mark. This was achieved in the 47th over off 279 balls with Shayne O'Connor bowling and the total advanced to 214 by its conclusion. ( Adams 16 no ; Pryor 10no ; ) The over was worth a great 18 runs to Auckland.

Over No 48 saw Kerry Walmsley conceed 12 and the Auckland total advanced to 226/6. O'Connor would be hoping his final over was a little more economical than his penultimate attempt but it was not to be as Pryor and Adams took 15 from it. Their 50 partnership had been reached off 27 balls in 19 minutes. Auckland 241/6

Walmsley began the final over of the innings and immediately had Adams caught by Wilson at deep mid off for 24. Auckland 241/7 Only 5 runs were scored by Auckland in the final over and their innings finished at 246/7 ( Pryor 30 no ; Richard Morgan 1 no ; )

Bowling for Otago- Kerry Walmsley 10-1-40-1 ; Shayne O'Connor 10-1-62-2 ; Nathan Morland 10-0-52-0 ; Jeff Wilson 10-1-42-3 ; Warren McSkimming 10-1-39-1:

Otago had a real chase ahead of them and would have to bat well to achieve a victory.

STEADY AS SHE GOES FOR AUCKLAND
State Auckland Aces won the toss in the State Shield match between State Otago Volts at Molyneux Park , Alexandra and will bat. Respective twelfth men are for Otago James McMillan ; for Auckland Brad Neilson. Umpires Gary Baxter and Dave Quested.

Opening the batting for Auckland are the former Otago opening pair Matthew Horne and Mark Richardson with Horne to face the first over from the Otago opening bowler Shayne O'Connor. Auckland negiotated the first over of the innings successfully at the end of which saw their total at 4/0. ( Horne 3 ; Richardson 1 )

Shayne O'Connor and Kerry Walmsley are of course both former New Zealand representatives and two opening bowlers who are very keen to regain their places in the national team. After 5 overs they had performed well with the Auckland total at 11/0.

While, the temperature had reached the mid twenties,the cloud had not altogether parted and when it did the locals were murmuring about a 30degree plus day.- heavens preserve us. Auckland had reached 30/0 with 8 overs gone but in the ninth O'Connor took a sharp low down return catch from Horne to dismiss him for 22. Auckland 34/1 ( Richardson 10 no ; Lorne Howell 0 no ; )

The Auckland fifty was reached in the 12th over from 72 balls with Richardson on 19 and Howell on 5. State Otago Volts were bowling only averagely with the Auckland batting seeming to have their measure. Over No 14 saw the Golden One introduced into the Otago attack and immediately he bowled a maiden. Jeffrey Wilson a great asset to any sports team he plays for always seems to produced something when he becomes involved.

After 18 overs Auckland had reached 64/1 ( Richardson 24 ; Howell 9 ) and Wilson had bowled 3 overs for 11 runs.

Drinks are being taken.

OTAGO SEEK WIN ON HOME PATCH.
Both teams in todays State Shield game between State Otago Volts and State Auckland Aces experienced defeats in their first round matches two days ago. Otago to Wellington and Auckland to Northern Districts were both close games but nevertheless still defeats. Otago are again at Molyneux Park, Alexandra, Central Otago and the day has dawned very warm with the promise of it becoming warmer as the hours tick by. Yesterday saw temperatures in the high 20's and the glorious fruit of this part of the country receive a good dose of ripening. The fruit will also receive some considerable eating in the near future- cherries are allready in abundant supply- the size of plums in many cases while apricots and peaches together with greengages are not far away.

But fruit is not the reason for us being here as we watch the Otago and Auckland teams do their warm ups-Auckland with a game of touch rugby and Otago with the more conventional exercises. The touch rugby concept is an interesting one; it has crept in over recent seasons but just a fortnight ago it had dire consequences in Dunedin club cricket when Tim Grubb a debutante senior player and a most excited one took part in the Carisbrook/Dunedin Club's Senior side's touch rugby warm up and promptly broke his leg, not even getting on the field. Woe, indeed double woe.

Although Auckland look strong in their top of the batting order I feel overall Otago appear slightly more experienced on paper. They will be eagar to achieve a victory on home soil while Auckland also want points on the board.

Playing Elevens will be chosen from the following-

Otago - Craig Cumming(Captain) , Mohammad Wasim , Andrew Hore , Robert Lawson , Marcel McKenzie , Warren McSkimming , Jeff Wilson , Peter McGlashan , Nathan Morland , Shayne O'Connor , James McMillan, Kerry Walmsley.

Auckland- Brooke Walker(Captain) , Lorne Howell , Aaron Barnes , Brad Neilson , Mark Richardson , Reece Young , Matt Horne , Rob Nicol , Tama Canning , Andre Adams , Richard Morgan , Craig Pryor.

With the temperature working the mercury at ease we look forward to a commencement in 45 minutes-all hats to be worn.