Date-stamped : 10 Feb97 - 10:17 *** Preview *** 3 January 1997 Canty Aims To Secure Home Semi-final Central Districts inadvertently did Canterbury a favour in the last round of the Shell Cup cricket competition but the home side is in no mood to return the compliment at Rangiora's Dudley Park, today. Canterbury already feels it owes Central Districts nothing after the visitors snatched a dramatic last-ball win in the first round match between the teams at Napier last month to end Canterbury's 14-match winning streak. But Central Districts, by upstaging competition leader Wellington in an eighth-round match at the Basin Reserve two days ago, enabled Canterbury to reclaim first place and the inside running to a home game semi-final next Wednesday. "The team do remember Napier but do not see it as a pay-back situation," Canterbury coach Denis Aberhart said. "We now have control of our destiny and want to ensure a home semi-final." Aberhart said the Canterbury bowlers were running into form and looking forward to clashing with the potentially powerful Central batting line-up. Central's top order batting fired consistently for the first time against Wellington and it needs a similar performance to keep its Cup semi-final hopes alive, lying in fifth place on seven points. "It's funny, we have beaten the two top teams, Canterbury and Wellington, but are still struggling to get consistency in our game," Central coach Scott Briasco said. He said the need now was for at least one of the batsmen to not just reach 50 but compile a big innings. Glenn Sulzberger's 71 has been Central's highest tally in eight outings. Briasco said Canterbury set the standard in the limited-over arena. Its batsmen invariably did play big innings after making a start, leading to match-winning scores. Central brings south the same 12 which played Wellington with 12th man in that game -- pace bowler Carl Bulfin -- subject to a fitness test before play today. He has been struggling with a quadracep muscle injury. Canterbury will field the same 12 as it has since the return of the New Zealand players six rounds ago. A decision on whether a bowler or batsman will be 12th man will be made after an inspection of the pitch. Aberhart said Chris Harris was again likely to fill the No. 3 batting role after succeeding in his two chances there in the past two games. "It is hard on Craig McMillan but Harris has been at six or seven for a long time, is now getting the chance and taking it." Canterbury officials have urged spectators to be arrive early and, with minimal stand seating, to bring deck chairs. In other ninth-round Cup games, Northern Districts (8) meets Otago (0) at Mt Maunganui while Wellington (11) hosts Auckland (10). Teams: Canterbury: Nathan Astle, Darrin Murray, Chris Harris, Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Brad Doody, Lee Germon (captain), Mark Priest, Warren Wisneski, Michael Sharpe, Geoff Allott. Central Districts: Craig Spearman, Glenn Sulzberger, Mark Douglas, Llorne Howell, Mark Greatbatch (captain), Matthew Sinclair, Matthew Walker, Dave Lamason, Greg Loveridge, Andrew Penn, Craig Findlay, Carl Bulfin. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) *** Match Report *** 4 January 1997 CD Cracks Under Sharpe Assault Michael Sharpe is keen for Canterbury to play more Shell Cup cricket matches on his home patch at Dudley Park, Rangiora, after helping trigger a Central Districts batting collapse yesterday. The broad-shouldered medium-fast bowler produced career-best one-day figures of four for 26 from 8.3 overs as Canterbury trounced Central Districts by nine wickets in a match which was completed by 3.30pm. Central Districts mustered just 111 from 36.3 overs with Canterbury using half that number of overs to wipe out, Nathan Astle contributing a blazing unbeaten 71 to leave the considerable crowd short-changed, but satisfied. Sharpe, 30, was not sorry Central Districts chose to bat first on a wicket which had the covers taken off rather late after morning showers forced a 16-minute delay. "I think we were looking at having a bowl given the cloud cover and overcast conditions. There was probably still a bit of moisture in it but it was not a bad track. "The ball didn't seam much, just enough probably, but some of the Central batsmen's shot selection may not have been the best." Sharpe said the wicket was a little bouncier and livelier than usual for Dudley Park but that should not have contributed completely to Central's demise. Sharpe collected the scalps of three players with New Zealand experience, Mark Greatbatch, Craig Spearman, and Mark Douglas before returning to claim the last wicket. Greatbatch was bemused by his dismissal after the ball touched his pad and shaved the leg stump enough to dislodge the leg bail. "I was just about to shout for leg before, then I noticed the bail had come off," Sharpe said. After a slowish start to the season he said he was happier now with his bowling. "I seem to be getting better and better. I'm lifting my feet well coming into the wicket, Denis (Aberhart) is on my back about that, and I'm hitting the deck hard. I'm feeling a lot more confident." The Central batting, as has often been the case this season, promised much but delivered little. Spearman played some bold shots in his 36 from 41 balls with five fours and a six before being one of several to play a mistimed shot. Central crashed to 49 for six in the 14th over as Sharpe, ably assisted by Geoff Allott and Chris Cairns wreaked havoc. Some resistance came from Matthew Sinclair and Greg Loveridge who put together the only partnership of substance lasting 13 overs before the innings subsided again. When Canterbury batted, Sharpe's team-mate Brad Doody was unable to make it a double for the sub-association, falling cheaply when promoted to open in place of Darrin Murray who had an eye infection. Astle, who has regained his batting form since returning to the Canterbury side, was at his sparkling best and he and Chris Harris shared an unbeaten 106-run stand in just 14 overs, a record second-wicket stand against Central Districts. Astle's 71 not out came from only 59 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. The innings was played before a New Zealand selector, Mike Shrimpton, and national coach Steve Rixon. Harris, again filling the No. 3 role, should have been out on 15, caught behind from a regulation edge but the chance was spilt which seemed to typify Central's miserable day. Other News: Canterbury's win has confirmed a place in the top two and a semi-final against Wellington with one round of the double round-robin competition remaining tomorrow. Although Canterbury leads, it is not yet assured of a home semi-final for a loss in its final match against Auckland in Auckland and a win by Wellington against Northern Districts in Wellington would leave Canterbury second. Auckland can only finish third at best while Northern Districts and Central Districts vie for the other play-off position. If Auckland and Northern Districts were tied on points net run rates would break the deadlock. Points after nine rounds: Canterbury 14, Wellington 13, Auckland 10, Northern Districts 8, Central Districts 7, Otago 2. CENTRAL DISTRICTS C Spearman c McMillan b Sharpe 36; G Sulzberger run out 2; L Howell c Astle b Allott 0; M Greatbatch b Sharpe 1; M Douglas c Astle b Sharpe 4; M Sinclair c Astle b Priest 39; M Walker lbw b Cairns 1; G Loveridge c Germon b Cairns 9; C Findlay b Priest 7; A Penn not out 1; C Bulfin c Priest b Sharpe 4; Extras (lb1, nb2, w4) 7; Total (off 36.3 overs) 111. Fall: 13, 14, 15, 30, 48, 49, 86, 93, 107, 111. Bowling: M Sharpe 8.3-3-26-4 (1w), G Allott 8-0-31-1 (1w), C Cairns 8-1-21-2 (2nb, 1w), C Harris 6-1-19-0, M Priest 6-3-13-2 (1w). CANTERBURY N Astle not out 71; B Doody c and b Bulfin 6; C Harris not out 28; Extras (lb4, nb2, w3) 9; Total for 1 wkt (off 18.1 overs) 114. Fall: 8. Bowling: A Penn 7-1-25-0, C Bulfin 6-0-42-1 (2nb, 2w), C Findlay 3-0-17-0, G Loveridge 2-0-22-0 (1w), M Walker 0.1-0-4-0. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)