Date-stamped : 19 Dec93 - 10:21
C Districts v Wellington, Wanganui
Wellington's win over Central Districts showed what a great thing
four  day cricket is. Since Evan Grey's retirement Wellington has
had a  real  shortage  of  spinners,  but previously   occasional
player, legspinner Mathew Goodson, had the chance for a good long
bowl, and his nine wickets was a promising  sign  for  Wellington
(and   maybe   NZ)   cricket.  Wellington's other star bowler was
the only real fast man in New Zealand, Heath   Davis.   To   hear
Roger  Twose, who has played a lot of County cricket against some
of the great pacemen of the world, say that that was the  fastest
bowling he had ever faced, is exciting news.
The game began with an excellent opening partnership for CD which
lasted  until after tea, with young Simon (not Jeff) Wilson scor-
ing a century. A  major  collapse  followed,  but Central   still
topped   the  300  mark.  Wellington  however topped  that figure
without  losing  a  wicket,  Ronnie  Hart (rarely   seen    after
representing  NZ in the West Indies as a 21 yr old in 1985) scor-
ing 121. Man of the Match Michael Austin, who has  played  Currie
Cup  cricket  and  is skipper in Gavin Larsen's absence, went one
better with a double century.  When Hart went out Douglas  scored
a  superb  95, eventually being caught right on the boundary when
the declaration beckoned.
With a 198 run lead Davis  bowled  very  quickly,  hitting  a  CD
opener  before  dismissing  him late on the third evening. On the
final day though Goodson was the hero, taking 6-48, and  Welling-
ton won by an innings.

<END> Contributed by Jason (jmas@waikato.ac.nz)