Date-stamped : 31 Oct96 - 10:12 29 October 1996 Canterbury labours to beat Auckland Geoff Longley Auckland batsman Michael Clark makes a despairing dive only to be run out by Canterbury wicketkeeper Mark Lane at Hagley Oval yesterday. Clark made 36 but Auckland was beaten in the final over. Canterbury made hard work on Labour Day of beating Auckland in the final over of a one-day trial cricket match at Hagley Oval yesterday. Canterbury appeared on target for a comfortable win at 120 for three with 10 overs remaining in pursuit of Auckland`s 161 for seven. Craig Cumming and Darrin Murray were in the midst of a productive partnership having added 86 for the fourth wicket, but three wickets then fell in the space of five runs to put pressure on the home side. It took some bold batting from Mark Priest, supported by Scott Pawson, to carry Canterbury through with five balls remaining. A confident Cumming produced the day`s highest score posting the only half century in the match which was reduced to 40 overs a side because of rain. Canterbury stuttered when Murray, batting No. 5, succumbed at deep mid-wicket having been dropped there just moments before. The next ball Gary Stead had the misfortune to be run out without facing a delivery. Cumming`s fine 88-ball innings ended soon after with the return of Auckland`s most penetrative bowler, Chris Drum, who cap- tured three wickets, and the asking rate climbed. But Priest, no stranger to a crisis, arrived and clamly whacked two fours off successive Drum deliveries in the 37th over to ease the in- creasing pressure while he hit another precious boundary in the next over. Four was wanted from the last over and Pawson ended the match emphatically with a four behind square off the first ball of Chris Lee`s over. Earlier, Auckland made sound progress against a steady Canterbury attack and reached 89 for one following good innings from former Otago player Richard King and Michael Clark. Although Auckland`s top order from last season has been de- cimated with the absence of Craig Spearman, Matt Horne, James Pamment and Andrew Reinholds, the material appears there to build a useful top order. Just when Auckland seemed about to accelerate the scoring, quicksilver Gary Stead struck in the field with the run-outs, of Aaron Barnes and Clark, to slow the momentum. Tidy bowling from Mark Priest, Michael Sharpe and Neil Maxwell after a good open- ing by Shane Bond kept Auckland to an attainable tally. Canterbury began badly losing Blair Hartland in the opening over from Drum and the innings was faltering at 34 for three until Cumming found a solid ally in Murray. Auckland posts second successive win The Auckland women`s cricket team won its second successive en- counter against reigning national champion Canterbury in a one-day women`s cricket match at Garrick Park yesterday. Auckland reached 142 for six from its 40 overs in the rain re- duced match following an even batting effort. Canterbury`s chal- lenge fell six runs short at 136 for nine. Auckland, which chose to bat first, had solid performances from its top order batswomen, with opener Shelley Fruin top scoring on 32. Emily Drumm made an attacking 22 before being bowled by Katrina Withers, Canterbury`s most dangerous bowler, while Claire Nicholson was again run out. Former Cantabrian Sara McLachlan played some punishing pull shots to be unbeaten on 23 later in the innings. Chasing 143 to win the Canterbury innings began brightly with Debbie Hockley in commanding form. Favouring the lofted drive she maintained the run rate, but lost partners along the way un- til caught herself at mid-wicket. Sally Frahm and Withers put together a useful partnership but as wickets fell the scoring momentum was lost and even a quick unbeaten 19 from Catherine Campbell was not enough to re- trieve the situation. Auckland was well served by off-spinners Nicholson and Paula Gruber, the latter conceding only 13 runs off her eight overs and picking up two wickets. Source :: The Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)