Date-stamped : 10 Feb97 - 10:17 *** Preview *** 14 January 1997 Canterbury Seeks To Write Cricket History Canterbury will seek to become the most successful side in Shell Cup cricket history when it meets Wellington in the final at the Basin Reserve today. Canterbury, which has won four titles in the past five seasons making it the premier one-day team in New Zealand, has won five championships over all since the event's inception in 1980-81, the same as Auckland. Canterbury has shown the ability to win finals away from Lancaster Park having been successful in Dunedin (1992-93) and Napier (1993-94) to add to the two crowns won at home in 1991-92, against Wellington, and last season. Coach Denis Aberhart expects the players to shrug aside the looseness evident in some preliminary matches for the big occasion to be played before a capacity 12,500 strong crowd. "I thought the looseness was out of our system before the semi-final against Wellington (which Canterbury lost), but this time there is no second chance." With considerable hype and hooplah surrounding the game in the capital, Aberhart detected a resolve in the Canterbury camp to show its public what the red and blacks were capable of. "Just driving around in the van we are getting the thumbs down from people, so they all know about it." Key all-rounder Chris Cairns said he felt the season had been one of the most difficult Canterbury had faced for reasons he could not pinpoint. "It's almost a feeling of relief to get there when we have played only well in patches." Cairns wondered if Canterbury needed to sharpen its fielding standard from which the rest of the game flowed. "We've been a bit lackadaisical in the field at times. We really need to work on that right from the warm-ups to set the mood." Cairns said he was unfazed by the musical messages the players were likely to receive during the game over the sound system at the ground. "You don't really even hear that sort of thing, if you're getting on with your job. But I don't mind it anyway, it all adds to the atmosphere ," said Cairns, a target with his tousled locks. Wellington present a tough mental obstacle to overcome, expertly led by Roger Twose with fellow experienced lieutenants in Gavin Larsen, Jason Wells, Richard Petrie, and English professional Paul Jarvis. Add a sprinkling of relative newcomers, none of whom have been contributing more than opener Phil Chandler, and it showed last week in Christchurch how capable it is. Wellington has top-order batsman Scott Weenink returning to its team after injury and he is likely to replace Scott McHardy at the top of the order. Canterbury took 13 players to Wellington with Craig Cumming added for fielding cover in case of any unforeseen eventualities. Aberhart said he does not mind Wellington playing its musical interludes, as long as the only song at the day's end is Queen's "We Are The Champions" to a red and black accompaniment. Teams: Wellington: Roger Twose (captain), Phil Chandler, Scott Weenink, Jason Wells, Richard Petrie, Robbie Kerr, Gavin Larsen, Paul Jarvis, Chris Nevin, Mark Jefferson, Glenn Jonas, Scott McHardy. Canterbury: Lee Germon (captain), Darrin Murray, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Mark Priest, Brad Doody, Glenn Muir, Geoff Allott, Warren Wisneski, Craig Cumming. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) 14 January 1997 Musical Barrage At Basin Canterbury's Shell Cup team is likely to face a verbal and musical barrage of equal intensity to the cricketing pressure created by Wellington in today's final at the Basin Reserve. In the past three weeks Martin Devlin has been the voice of Wellington cricket's new entertainment package which has had the crowd in stitches and left visiting teams fuming. Devlin combines carefully selected songs and tongue-in-cheek comments over the public address system intended to ensure Shell Cup cricket can compete with other entertainment on offer. However, that approach has inspired complaints from the likes of New Zealand and Canterbury captain Lee Germon, Jeff Wilson, Otago coach Vaughan Johnson, and most notably Central Districts captain Mark Greatbatch during the Wellington-Central Districts match. Devlin, who has the support of Wellington cricket chief executive Rodney Moore, said players were being precious. As Greatbatch strode to the wicket, Devlin noted over his booming speakers that the Kiwi vice-captain had struggled to score runs this season. Then he played the theme from "Mission Impossible". Greatbatch made offensive gestures and mouthed obscenities to Devlin when he was dismissed. Greatbatch then made a heated complaint to Moore. New Zealand Cricket chief executive Christopher Doig has investigated and will not take action. Devlin, a breakfast radio announcer with Channel Z, said Wellington's opponents in the Basin final would know they were not on their own turf. "Canterbury is in for a rocket. We want to make sure that they know they're playing away from home." Songs chosen by Devlin and promotions company organiser Nick Mills include "Get A Haircut" for Chris Cairns, "You're So Vain" for Adam Parore, and "Smoke On The Water" for Matthew Hart, who was one of three cricketers suspended for smoking cannabis while on tour in South Africa. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) *** Match Report (Abandoned Day) *** 15 January 1997 Second Chance For Wellington Thanks To Rain WELLINGTON -- Wellington gained a second chance to snatch the Shell Cup from Canterbury yesterday when, at 46 for two after 15 overs, rain forced the game to be abandoned to begin again today. Wellington was struggling in the one-day cricket final against holders Canterbury at Wellington's Basin Reserve, having lost the wickets of Phil Chandler for nought and Scott Weenink for three during the first three overs, when rain forced the players from the field. With provision for the match to be carried over into the reserve day, Canterbury tried to have Wellington resume today at 46 for two with 35 overs to face. However, the rules say for a game to be resumed, the team batting first must have faced a minimum of 30 overs. Wellington convener of selectors Robbie Smith welcomed the second chance for his team. "It's good for us, we have the chance to start afresh," he said. "It would have made the final a farce if it had been reduced to a slog. "Games where the overs are reduced are never satisfactory. I'd like to think we'll make a better start a second time." Canterbury coach Denis Aberhart accepted the ruling, but he suggested there was some merit in teams carrying on their innings even if 30 overs had not been completed. Had play resumed yesterday, a reduction in the overs would have favoured Canterbury. For the game to have been completed yesterday, both teams would have needed time to face a minimum of 30 overs. There was some surprise when Wellington chose to bat first after winning the toss, given the unsettled weather forecast. Had Canterbury called correctly, it would have chosen to bowl first. If no result is achieved today, the cup and prize-money will be shared. The forecast is for improved weather. -- NZPA Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) *** Match Report (Reserve Day) *** 16 January 1997 Canty Claims Shell Cup Glory Priest crowns lengthy career Mark Priest, in the twilight of his provincial cricketing career, capped a complete team performance from Canterbury, which crushed Wellington by 123 runs in the Shell Cup final at the Basin Reserve yesterday. Priest, 35, struck a run for each of his years in a telling unbroken stand worth 38 with Glenn Muir, which carried Canterbury over the psychological 200-run barrier. Wellington then folded against the sustained accuracy and hostility of the Canterbury pace attack, with the slow bowlers supporting them to humble Wellington for 81 and Priest capturing three wickets on a turning track. Canterbury captain Lee Germon praised Priest's innings of power hitting, which he said turned the score into a defendable total. Priest hammered his 35 not out in 38 balls, with three fours and the only six of the innings. Germon felt 200 would be a competitive score on a pitch he described as "not particularly good". He noted that Chris Cairns, who played a restrained innings of 42, had needed 77 balls to compile his runs. Both Germon and Cairns battled against the clamps applied by Wellington's slower bowlers, Mark Jefferson and Gavin Larsen. "I was a bit worried when I went in at 98 for five but it was hard going out there to get things flowing and they bowled really well," Germon said. He said that Canterbury needed to strike soon after Wellington batted and not let the side gain momentum in the first 15 overs. "The guys bowled so well, Wish (Wisneski) probably bowled the straightest he has this season, Geoff Allott continued to bowl the way he has all season and Cairnsy was pretty fired up. Then Priesty came on and it was turning and Harry had the ball 'exploding'." An anxious moment arose in the 22nd over when drizzle began falling and Germon used Priest and Chris Harris to speed up the overs to get to the 30-over mark for a result to be declared. He also declined drinks to speed up the rate but the rain, which had wiped out the scheduled day for the final, disappeared. The start to Wellington's innings was almost a replica of its one the previous day, with openers Phil Chandler and Scott Weenink falling cheaply -- with Chandler again falling in Wisneski's first over. Only captain Roger Twose provided much resistance, but he was undone by a superb Cairns delivery which seamed a little and Wellington's lightweight middle-order was exposed. Priest tidied up the lower order while Harris chimed in with his now regular innings run out. Germon said Canterbury batted first after winning the toss because he felt the pitch had dried considerably and would tend to slow up as the day progressed. Apart from the first over loss of Nathan Astle, Canterbury began brightly -- with Craig McMillan striking the ball as well as anyone against Wellington's medium pace attack. He and Darrin Murray added 63 together before McMillan, who had contributed 38 from 36 balls with five fours, was run out by a direct hit from Mark Jefferson. Canterbury battled from there as Jefferson and Larsen strangled much of the life from the innings as the run rate dropped from five in the early stages closer to three. Jefferson, a promising 20-year-old left-armer, finished his spell on a high note -- bowling a maiden to Cairns. But Cairns's restraint was commendable in the circumstances and Canterbury could have ill-afforded to lose him after Stephen Fleming and Harris had fallen within three balls in the 26th over. CANTERBURY N Astle c Wells b Jarvis................0 D Murray std Nevin b Jefferson.........24 C McMillan run out.....................38 S Fleming c Nevin b Larsen.............19 C Cairns c Kerr b Jarvis...............42 C Harris c and b Larsen.................0 L Germon c Chandler b Jonas............17 M Priest not out.......................35 G Muir not out.........................10 Extras (5lb, 2nb, 12w).................19 Total (for 7 wkts)....................204 Fall: 1, 64, 79, 98, 98, 145, 166. Bowling: P Jarvis 10-0-44-2 (1nb, 5w), G Jonas 10-0-55-1 (4w), R Petrie 4-0-22-0 (2w), G Larsen 10-3-29-2, M Jefferson 10-1-24-1 (1w), R Twose 5-0-17-0, J Wells 1-0-8-0. WELLINGTON P Chandler c Germon b Wisneski..........0 S Weenink run out.......................2 J Wells c Priest b Allott...............5 R Twose c Germon b Cairns..............24 R Petrie lbw b Allott...................0 R Kerr c Fleming b Cairns...............4 G Larsen c Wisneski b Priest...........16 C Nevin b Priest........................8 P Jarvis run out........................9 M Jefferson not out.....................5 G Jonas c Allott b Priest...............2 Extras (1b, 1lb, 4w)....................6 Total (in 33.5 overs)..................81 Fall: 0, 4, 9, 9, 31, 38, 54, 63, 78, 81. Bowling: W Wisneski 6-3-8-1 (2w), G Allott 6-2-12-2, N Astle 6-1-14-0, C Cairns 5-0-15-2, M Priest 5.5-1-15-3, C Harris 5-1-15-0. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) *** Review *** 16 January 1997 Aberhart Proud Canterbury cricket coach Denis Aberhart may be in his last season and his players gave him a fitting farewell present, should he decide to bow out, with their Shell Cup success against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday. Aberhart admitted after the win he was near the end of his coaching innings with Canterbury but had not made any definite decision. "I'm probably getting near the end of things but we'll just have to see what happens at the end of the season," he said. Aberhart has been on the selection panel for each of the five title-winning seasons since 1991-92 and coach for three of the past four successful years. Canterbury chairman Arthur Graves said the board was more than happy with his performance and would not want him to finish on their account. "It's a strike rate he, and we, are well proud of." Wellington captain Roger Twose said Canterbury was the best one-day team on paper in New Zealand and had played to that standard yesterday. "They have such a deep batting order that even on a wicket which was a bit difficult they still got over 200. Then they had the bowlers and fielders doing the job which never let us get going." Wellington has had a disappointing record in finals of late having now lost two Shell Cup finals in three seasons, both at home, and successive Shell Trophy finals. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) 23 January 1997 Canterbury Success A Team Effort The Shell Cup returned to its almost permanent residing place in Canterbury Cricket's trophy cabinet last week. Consideration should perhaps be given to a replica being struck for other teams to play for, such has been Canterbury's dominance of the one-day competition during the 1990s. There seems little reason why Canterbury, with most of its present line-up set to continue for some seasons yet, cannot further the remarkable record of five titles in six seasons. However, this season's success was not the breezy triumph of the previous year when Canterbury was unbeatable while posting 12 straight wins. The Canterbury players, several times, had to question if they were playing to their potential and battle back. Perhaps because almost half the team are New Zealand representatives, who are in the midst of another busy season, it was hard to lift for yet another one-dayer. By contrast Wellington, Canterbury's opponent in last Wednesday's delayed final, had no players on the field in Pakistan which enabling it to be fresh and focused on the Shell Cup challenge. But the Canterbury players lifted themselves for the all important final, albeit having to take the harder route there, by losing their major semi-final match against Wellington. Other teams are closing in on Canterbury, as losses also to Central Districts and Auckland indicate, with the standard rising and everyone judging themselves alongside Canterbury and aiming for its scalp. Canterbury's success in the final was based, a little unusually for it this season, on a committed team effort. While 204 for seven was not a large total in the final, Canterbury was confident it could be defended on a Basin Reserve pitch not playing as truly as it looked. The cup season started with Canterbury minus its New Zealand players for the first two matches. The "back-up boys" responded admirably maintaining Canterbury's winning streak against Northern Districts and Auckland. Darrin Murray gave the team a grand start during the first round and while his form fell away in the second round, Nathan Astle came to light. Invariably, one of the two openers scored heavily. The No. 3 was a problem position for Canterbury for much of the season, with Craig McMillan going through a run trough apart from the start and end of the season. Chris Harris was tried and made some valuable contributions while not always being convincing. Brad Doody struggled after being recalled to the playing XI after a stylish start. Class players Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns fired intermittently yet they both played some telling knocks -- Cairns's diligent 42 was a vital effort in the final while Fleming seemed in great touch but the bigger scores rarely materialised. Lower down the order, Lee Germon, Mark Priest and Glenn Muir had their moments. Priest excelled in the final where he made a cracking unbeaten 35, took three wickets, a catch and was the catalyst for a run out. Priest, 35, Canterbury's longest-serving Shell Cup player -- he made his provincial debut in 1984-85 -- will have a fond memory if he retires after this season. Canterbury's bowling was invariably accurate and demanding with Geoff Allott the most consistent of the pacemen, while Cairns, Warren Wisneski and Michael Sharpe all had some memorable spells. Cairns and Wisneski both had six-wicket hauls and Cairns off an economical run was still able to get the ball through at pace. Muir displayed the depth Canterbury had when called in to replace the injured Sharpe for the play-offs and he acquitted himself capably with bat and ball. Harris, Astle and Priest completed an invariably tidy slower bowling trio. Harris's ability in the field was freakish. He averaged a run out a game and generally Canterbury's fielding was of a high standard. Working closely with astute skipper and wicketkeeper Lee Germon was coach Denis Aberhart, who continued his successful association with the side. Aberhart had the job, which appears straightforward on the surface, of getting a side of talented players performing well. With Canterbury misfiring at times this season, his motivational, technical and tactical skills were thoroughly tested. Backing The Management team was the professional Canterbury Cricket administration and pro-active sponsor Canterbury Draught. CD marketing man Paul Sissons, in his ever confident way, had caps inscribed "1997 Shell Cup champions" made before the final was staged. Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)