28th Match: Auckland v Wellington at Auckland, 25 Jan 2002 CricInfo Live Report

28th Match: Auckland v Wellington at Auckland, 25 Jan 2002
Don Cameron

Auckland innings: first drinks, second drinks, end of innings,
Wellington innings: first drinks, Wellington win,
Pre-game: preview,

WELLINGTON IN WINNING CRUISE MODE

Walker shuffled the Auckland bowlers about, with the last man used, Haslam, looking the more likely to break the Sales-Donaldson stand as he several beat the bat, but could not get an edge.

Still, Wellington cruised along busily, and with plenty of overs (up to 40) in which to gain a bonus point. Still, they rather flattered the Auckland bowling which at one stage conceded three runs from five overs.

The scoring rate dropped marginally under three an over as the Wellington batsmen seemed pinned down, but Sales broke through when he drove Haslam high for six, pulled a short ball for four, added a single and went to his 50 in 104 minutes, from 82 balls, with eight fours and a six.

That burst carried Wellington to 88 for three wickets, 38 still needed -- and Sales helped himself to a second six over mid-wicket when Barnes offered him a juicy fulltoss on the leg stump.

Fittingly enough, Sales -- the only man who really looked like a batsman in the low-class display -- was there on 63 not out when Wellington completed their wholesale victory.

BAD NEWS FOR CHRIS NEVIN

Needing just over two runs an over for victory and to confirm their place at the top of the shield ladder, Wellington got a racing start when Nevin cover-drove the first ball, from Shaw, for four.

The Wellington applause had barely died down before Shaw bowled his second ball, and hit Nevin's leg stump. Shaw almost caused another shock when he got the outside edge of Sales' bat and the catch went just wide of Auckland's three-slip field.

Jones looked very businesslike and the runs came readily, until Shaw, an enthusiastic right-arm medium-fast man, did some more damage.

Shaw pitched on leg stump, Jones got a fine outside edge and Young took a fine rolling catch wide of the leg stump. Wellington were 19 for two, and Bell was beaten pointless by Shaw's first ball, but it missed the edge.

Shaw and Morgan kept the Wellington batsmen under pressure, until Bell broke the drought when he straight-drove a ball from Canning for four, taking the total into the 30's.

Walker brought his leg-spin into the game for the 14th over, Wellington 39 for two, and immediately gained noticeable, if slow, turn. Shaw kept plugging away, but in his eighth consecutive over he rather lost his line, and Bell and Sales picked up eight runs, and Wellington cruised into the 50's with a four from a Walker long-hop in the next over. After b16 overs Wellington were 53 for two, and halfway on the road to victory.

Shaw was finished, 8-2-21-2 and impressive with his accuracy and determination. Morgan seemed to fill in the over before drinks, but he struck a blow for Auckland by persuading Bell to tickle a ball down the leg side and Young had the catch -- Wellington 53 for three in 17 overs.

PENN DOES THE DAMAGE

Penn struck again in his next over, having Haslam caught at the wicket, giving the Wellingtonian five for 17 from his nine overs, and with his last three wickets coming in seven balls.

Penn's final figures were most impressive at 10-3-19-5, but modest compared with his career-best seven for 28 against Northern Districts at Mt Maunganui last season.

Two outrageous edges through slips for four got Auckland past the 100 and a single to Morgan made the 10th-wicket stand worth 20, the best of the innings which still had ten overs to run.

The Auckland luck ran out at 115 after 43.5 overs, with Morgan lbw to Hitchcock.

STILL MORE DISASTER FOR AUCKLAND

The arrival of Jefferson and his slow left-armers gave the hard-pressed Aucklanders some solace, for his first two balls were wides, and Young paddled the third for four to fine leg. However, Jefferson almost tempted Howell into playing a rash stroke, for a lofted on-drive pitched just in front of deep mid-on.

Howell's reprieve lasted only five balls. In his next over Hitchcock rammed a yorker under Howell's bat and into the stumps -- Auckland 50 for five wickets and Howell's 91-minute, 65-ball struggle had squeezed out 11 runs.

By the halfway mark at 25 overs Auckland had dawdled along to 56 for five. Canning caused a flutter in the Auckland camp with a lusty straight drive for four from Walker's bowling, but there was more bad news just around the corner.

Young had looked sound and solid, but a short ball from Turner so confused him that he prodded a simple catch back to Turner -- who soon after finished his spell with the impressive figures of three for 20 from 10 overs, including one maiden.

Another powerful drive for four by Canning was followed by Walker being replaced at the bowling crease by Penn, who had been as impressive as his figures of 7-2-12-2 indicated. Canning was not impressed, and a clinking straight drive off Penn was just stopped from crossing the boundary below the sightscreen.

However, Walker had been unconvincing with the bat and when his miscued a drive at Penn the catch went easily to Sales at deep mid-off -- Auckland 85 for seven. The arrival of the drinks tray on the sideline again meant another Auckland loss.

Canning, after looking solid, played a foolish stroke at a ball from the first ball of Penn's next over and was easily caught by Walker. Penn's figures had improved to four wickets for 17 runs.

DISASTER-TIME FOR AUCKLAND

A crisp flick to the mid-wicket fence by Horne in Penn's second over seemed to indicate that the Auckland run-machine was running smoothly, but in the same over Auckland -- and Horne -- received a nasty shock.

The last ball of Penn's second over seemed a routine delivery, and Horne chose to shoulder arms and let it pass. To his dismay the ball seemed back enough to hit the off stump, and after only 18 balls Auckland were only eight for one wicket.

Penn kept up the attack as Howell and McIntosh tried to repair the damage, and they played some strong strokes as the score moved into the 20's.

Turner had been bustling in from the other end without suggesting more disasters for Auckland -- that is, until his fourth over.

McIntosh drove Turner vigorously on the off-side, but lifted the ball and at short cover Sales took a smart, high catch. Twenty-two for two immediately because 22 for three when Barnes pushed out at Turner's next ball, got only a fine edge and at second slip Walker took a good catch low down.

Howell, meantime, had become bogged down and after facing 39 balls he had scored only four singles. Walker had something to do with this slow progress -- Walker's opening spell before Penn resumed the attack read 3-2-3-0.

Turner had the even more impressive figures of 7-1-15-2 when he was replaced by Hitchcock.

Auckland did, however, get a bonus when Howell found that a tight two off Hitchcock was turned into an all-run four when Jefferson threw quickly, but missed the bowler's stumps by about 15 metres and the Aucklanders ran two over-throws.

There was worse to come for Auckland. Just as the first drinks break approached Horsley drove at Penn and the catch just carried to Bell at deep mid-on -- Auckland 38 for four wickets.

TOSS WIN FOR AUCKLAND

The beleaguered Auckland cricket team look like using recent criticism from the local television commentators as their main motivation going into the final State shield one-day match against Wellington on the Eden Park outer oval today.

Auckland coach Tony Sail has caught up with some sharp criticism directed toward his team while losing to Northern Districts earlier this week, and mentioned this i9n the dressing room before play started today.

Auckland had to leave out the injured bowler, Chris Drum, and brought back Aaron Barnes and Aaron Barnes. Wellington welcomed back Andrew Penn, made Jeetan Patel 12th man and omitted Manu Gillespie.

Auckland may have gained a slight advantage by deciding to bat first after winning the toss. The pitch has been used before and rolled out as a bare, hard strip which should give the batsmen a little pace and bounce at the start, but become slower, with lower bounce, late in the day.

Wellington lead the shield race with 33 points, followed by Northern Districts (30) and Canterbury (25), the latter two playing at Timaru today.

Teams: Wellington: Matt Bell (captain), Chris Nevin, Richard Jones, Grant Donaldson, Matt Jefferson, Matt Walker, Paul Hitchcock, Andrew Penn, Mayu Pasupati, David Sales, Ash Turner.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (captain), Matt Horne, Llorne Howell, Aaron Barnes, Nick Horsley, Tama Canning, Reece Young, Mark Haslam, Gareth Shaw, Richard Morgan, Tim McIntosh.

Umpires: Wayne Knight, Barry Frost, Phil Jones (tv).