20th Match: Otago v Northern Districts at Dunedin, 19 Jan 2003 CricInfo Live Report

20th Match: Otago v Northern Districts at Dunedin, 19 Jan 2003
Warwick Larkins

Otago innings: End of match,
Northern Districts innings: Scene set, 1st drinks, End of innings,

OTAGO FAIL MISERABLY IN REVISED RUN CHASE.
Chasing 250 for victory the State Otago Volts Opening pair of Mohammad Wasim and Robbie Lawson negiotated the first over of the innings successfully with Lawson taking 5 runs from Darryl Tuffey.

Halfway through the third over rain forced the players from the field. Otago 7 /0 at 4.20pm. At 4.50pm. a ground announcement has been made that if play does not resume by 6.05pm the game will be abandoned.

Another ground announcement has been made to the effect that play will recommence at 5.50 pm with Otago having the revised target under the Duckworth/Lewis system of 199 from 33 overs. This means 192 runs are required from the remaining 30.4 overs.

Lawson and Wassim resumed their innings after a break of an hour and a half and made little headway initially against Tuffey and Ian Butler and some rain returned but the players and umpires remained on the field. Six overs bowled and the Otago total had reached 25/0 . ( Lawson 8 no ; Wasim 7 no ; ) Otago need 174 from 27 overs to win.

But, they were going to have to do it without Wasim as flashing at a ball outside the off stump from Tuffey he was caught at 2nd slip by Matthew Hart for 8. Otago 27/1. Enter Brendon McCullum in an attempt to raise the scoring rate. The next over bowled by Butler saw Lawson adjudged LBW to Butler for 9 . Otago 27/2 ( Brendon McCullum 0 no ; Craig Cumming 0 no ; )

McCullum hooking Butler was caught by Tuffey at Fine Leg but Tuffey could not control it and fell over the boundary. 6 runs for McCullum. Otago 45/2 and need 154 from 23 overs at 6.70 per over.

Otago reached their fifty off 67 balls but disaster the next over when McCullum was caught by keeper Robbie Hart bowled Joseph Yovich for 14 and soon after the new batsman Marcel McKenzie was caught Tuffey bowled Yovich for no score. Otago 57/4 ( Cumming 22 no ; Peter McGlashan 0 no ; )

Rain is again falling and at 6.48 pm with Otago having received 14.5 overs and their total at 71/4 the umpires dec ide that play should cease. Four minutes later play recommences- the Northern Knights fielders had not left the field, only the Otago batsmen Cumming and McGlashan. The rain did not continue and so the covers were not put in place and play now continues.

Daniel Vettori is now into the attack with Otago total at 74/4 and the run rate slows up markedly. Scott Styris is bowling from the other end and seems also to be bowling very straight and with good length.

Robbie Hart made a botch of a stumping chance off Vettori when he fumbled the ball and McGlashan lived to fight another day but not all that much later an error in calling saw him run out for 11.

Otago 83/5 ( Cumming 28 no ; Warren McSkimming 0 no ; )

Cumming as if depressed by the fall around him attempted a big hit off Styris and was caught by Vettori at mid wicket on the boundary for 32. Otago 87/6 ( McSkimming and Nathan Morland both on 0 )

112 runs off 12 overs at 9.33 were needed by Otago to win but their only hope of points from this match was rain. No rain around at Carisbrook but another wicket as Morland was bowled by Styris for no score. Otago 89/7 ( McSkimming 2 no ; Shayne O'Connor 0 no ; )

McSkimming and O'Connor even although requiring an almost impossible target to take them through to victory were attempting to force the pace and brought up the Otago hundred in the 26th over- soon after McSkimming attempting to smash Vettori out of the ground saw the ball go high in the air for New Zealand's most successful ever slow bowler to take the caught and bowled chance. Otago 101/8

16 an over from the last 6 overs was required and there was no chance and further disappointment as Kerry Walmsley was bowled leg stump by Styris for no score. Otago 103/9

James McMillan was close to being run out as he scored his first run off Styris but was soon pavilionwards as he chipped one from Vettori to be caught at backward point by Hamish Marshall for 2. O'Connor was 12 not out and Otago all out for 108 giving Stae Northern Knights a win by 90 runs. Otago had again batted poorly under difficult circumstances after the run chase had been adjusted due to the rain. The badly needed rain that Otago had needed to draw the game is now sweeping the ground more vicously than at any stage during the game. Oh me oh my.

Bowling for Northern Districts - Darryl Tuffey 5-0-18-1 ; Ian Butler 5-1-21-1 ; Joseph Yovich 3-0-13-2 ; Graeme Allridge 2-0-13-0 ; Scott Styris 7-1-20-3 ; Daniel Vettori 6.3-0-17-2.

ND POST BIG TOTAL IN THE GLOOM
State Northern Knights James Marshall while being a good anchor had now faced 60 balls for his 20 runs and should be attempting to up his run rate. He must have been listening because 2 minutes later attempting to hit James McMillan behind square was well caught by Marcel McKenzie at square leg for 23. Northern 77/4 in the 20th over ( Matthew Hart 0 no ; Joseph Yovich 0 no ; )

THis Northern team has seven current or former New Zealand representatives in it and looks to be a formidable opponent for any opposition and will be wanting to rebuild its innings after two cheap dismissals. Its hundred was achieved in the 27th over off 162 balls with Matthew Hart on 14 and Joseph Yovich on 8. The Otago off spinner Nathan Morland was bowling a fine line and length and had only conceeded 6 runs from his 3 overs bowled. The rest of the Otago attack had also been quite containing with Shayne O'Connor particularly worthy of mention with only 13 scored from 7overs.

Hart and Yovich achieved their 50 partnership for the 5th wicket and took their teams total to 130/4 in the 33rd over

Morland had now conceeded only 20 from 6 overs and was bowling well. He had been joined by the right armed leg spinner Mohammad Wasim who after conceeding 10 in his over had settled onto a good line and length and was proving testing to Hart and Yovich who by now though had both moved into the thirties. Northern 145/4

O'Connor was brought back into the attack for the 39th over of the innings and was hit for 10 from it. The 40th saw Morland hit for a six into the front of the main stand by Hart and his teams total had advanced to 163/4 ( Hart 45 no ; Yovich 38 no ; ) Hart achieved his 50 off 65 balls and soon after registered a hundred run partnership with Yovich . Morland completed his tenth and final over gaining the figures of 0/41. O'Connor too was commencing his last over and Yovich with two successive balls outside the off stump. Yovich chanced his arm off the 4th ball and achieved his fifty from 75 balls. O'Connor completed the over and his spell with 39 runs taken from him.

With seven overs left in the State Northern Knights innings Otago had the option of bowling Kerry Walmsley, Warren McSkimming or James McMillan. Wasim had bowled 3 overs for 16 runs and was out of the picture. Hart moved into the sixties and Northern close to 200 as the 45th over began, bowled by Walmsley. It only took 2 balls before Yovich tried to hit him out of the ground but fell short and was caught well by Marcel McKenzie with a fine running catch on the deep cover boundary. Northern 198/5 ( Matthew Hart 62no ; Hamish Marshall 0 no ;)

Northern reached its 200 from 269 balls and had 5 overs to bat. The sky which had lightened up in recent times now had become dark again but should last for the remainder of the Northern innings. Hamish Marshall played a magnificent cover drive off Walmsley to take his team to 211 and was skittled 2 balls later by Walmsley . Northern 211/6 ( Matthew Hart 68no ; Robbie Hart 0 no ; )

Three overs to go and 217/6- McMillan bowling his 9th over is economical and the total advances only by 3. Walmsley to bowl the 49th and immediately gets hit for a four and a six sending the score rocketing to 230/6. Matthew Hart into the eighties.

Walmsley has now gone for 50 which won't exactly enthrall him but he's bowling at the death and it's to be expected on most occasions. McMillan to bowl Number 50- Northern 236/6. Matthew Hart moves into the nineties with a glide down to fine leg for 4 and then smashes McMillan onto the main stand roof for 6 . Hart goes to 98 with a single off a no ball but gets run out next ball when his brother calls him through for a cheeky single. He faced 94 balls for his 98( 8 fours and 3 sixes )Darryl Tuffey gets a single from the last ball of the innings which ends on 249/7. ( Robbie Hart 4no ; Darryl Tuffey 1 no ; ).

Bowling for Otago- Shayne O'Connor 10-1-39-0 ; Kerry Walmsley 10-1-53-2 ; James McMillan 10-0-59-2 ; Warren McSkimming 7-0-37-1 ; Nathan Morland 10-0-41-0 ; Mohammad Wasim 3-0-16-0

On a good pitch this totable is getable but Otago will have to bat a lot better than they have in their last two games against Auckland and Canterbury to achieve victory.

GLOOMY OVERHEAD CONDITIONS SEE EVEN STEVENS AT DRINKS
The State Northern Knights got away to a bright and confident start in their State Shield match against State Otago Volts at Carisbrook today with Daniel Vettori and James Marshall looking assured and the team total at 15/0 after 4 overs. Shayne O'Connor and Kerry Walmlsey opening the bowling for Otago as they have so far this season were containing with O'Connor being particularly economic with only 3 runs conceeded from 3 overs.

In the 6th over Vettori at the non strikers end backed up a little too far, then slipped slightly with Warren McSkimming fielding the ball at short mid on,throwing the ball to Robbie Lawson at short third man who ran in to break the stumps. State Northern Knights 18/1 ( James Marshall 5no ; Michael Parlane 0 no ). Vettori run out for 10.

Parlane and James Marshall continued in a forceful manner with the result that the Northern fifty came up in the 14th over with a six onto the Carisbrook terrace by Parlane off James McMillan. ( Marshall 13no ; Parlane 25no ; ) The ceiling remained very low and rain was threatened but had not arrived. Parlane always eagar to score finally missed a straight delivery from Warren McSkimming and was clean bowled for an entertaining 34 from 29 balls. Northern 63/2 ( James Marshall 18 no ; Scott Styris 0 no ;)

While Central Otago offered magnificent fruitand scenery to cricket devotees, Southland succulent oysters , North Otago more fruit and impressive Oamaru Stone Buildings, Dunedin apart from its imprerssive setting and buildings was today producing quantities of Scottish mist which should be found an export market. Still the hills of the Otago Peninsula could still be seen and so no significant moisture was present.

Scott Styris never really got under way and was brilliantly caught one handed by James McMillan when the ball was in fact past him for 4. Northern 72/3 in the 18th over and drinks are being taken.

ND BAT IN GLOOMY CONDITIONS
A predicted high of 26 degrees in Dunedin for the State Shield game between the State Otago Volts and the State Northern Knights has not eventuated but however plenty of grey sky and rain in the afternoon seem certain.

Play will start on time in mild conditions with the Northern Knights having won the toss and electing to bat. Both sides coming off defeats- Otago to Canterbury and Northern Districts to Central Districts will be keen to win this one and gain points in this State Shield Competition .

The teams are- Otago- Craig Cumming (Captain) , Mohammed Wasim , Robert Lawson , Marcel McKenzie , Warren McSkimming , Brendon McCullum , Peter McGlashan , Nathan Morland , Shayne O'Connor , James McMillan , Kerry Walmsley, Jordan Sheed (12th man )

Northern Districts - Robbie Hart (Captain) , James Marshall , Daniel Vettori , Michael Parlane , Scott Styris , Matthew Hart , Joseph Yovich , Hamish Marshall , Graeme Aldridge , Ian Butler , Daryl Tuffey , Mark Orchard (12th man)