23rd Match: Central Districts v Wellington at Waikanae, 20 Jan 2002 CricInfo Live Report

23rd Match: Central Districts v Wellington at Waikanae, 20 Jan 2002
Steve McMorran

Wellington innings: Pre-match, Rain Delay, Rain Delay, Innings Change Over,

CD CHASE 176 AT WAIKANAE

Wellington laboured between rain breaks to 160-8 batting first after winning the toss in a State Shield match, shortened to 46 overs per side, at Waikanae Park today.

Their innings was twice interupted by rain - after 10 overs when they were 33-0 and after 33 overs when they were 102-3. A total of 68 minutes but only four overs were lost as a result of the showers.

Wellington lost their momentum around those rain breaks and were hampered in their run scoring by a slow pitch which seamed and turned unpredictably.

They showed the same lack of urgency through the middle of their innings which affected them when they lost to Canterbury by 36 runs at the Basin Reserve last Friday. Wellington needed someone to set the tempo of their innings but after Chris Nevin was out for 54 no single player was equal to that challenge.

There were, again, a series of minor performances but Wellington needed a player to lead the innings and they found none. David Sales made 24, Grant Donaldson 19 and Matthew Walker chipped in an important 24 near the end but Wellington's total was made to appear unimposing.

Andrew Schwass played a large part in restricting Wellington, taking 4-35 from nine overs including two wickets with the first two balls of the final over. Ewen Thompson took 2-29 and Brent Hefford 2-27.

Central's target was revised upwards under the Duckworth Lewis system because of the loss of overs and they were left 176 to win.

RAIN STOPS PLAY ONCE MORE

Wellington were 102-3 when rain stopped play after 33 overs in their State Shield match against Central Districts at Waikanae Park today.

The rain interuption was the second of the Wellington innings, after they had won the toss and batted. They had previously been chased from the field for 20 minutes after 10 overs when they were 33-0.

Opener Chris Nevin reached a half century from 72 balls as Wellington's leading run getter through the first half of the innings. He was out in the 28th over, for 54, when Wellington was 88.

Wellington had also lost captain Matthew Bell for 18 after a 65-run opening partnership with Nevin. Richard Jones was then out without scoring when Wellington were 73.

All three batsmen fell to catches in front of the wicket, Nevin and Jones to cover and Bell to mid-wicket.

Rain has threatened throughout the day and the match has been played in a general, light drizzle. The first shower, after 10 overs, was heavy enough to bring out the covers and the second, heavier still, threatens to bring the game to an early end.b

RAIN SWEEPS ACROSS WAIKANAE PARK

Wellington were 33-0 when rain stopped play after 10 overs in their State Shield match against Central Districts at Waikanae Park today.

The match began and was played through those 10 overs in cool southerly conditions and under the influence of faint but persistent wind-borne drizzle.

But heavier rain could be seen encroaching on the ground from the south in the 40 minutes following the noon start and it finally made its presence felt as Michael Mason bowled the 10th over. Umpires Evan Watkin, who had to stare into the face of the southerly, and Rob Kinsey finally decided conditions were unsuitable for play and the covers were called for.

Chris Nevin was 25 and Matthew Bell five when rain stopped play and after Wellington had won the toss and batted. Nevin's innings included four fours, three from drives through mid off or cover and another from a pull just forward of point.

The match is an important one for Wellington who are attempting to regather their momentum after suffering their first loss in seven Shield games this season at Canterbury's hands at the Basin Reserve on Friday. A win today against bottom-placed Central would almost guarantee the competition leaders a place in the Shield semifinals.

SULZBERGER FIT FOR IMPORTANT MATCH

Captain Glen Sulzberger has been passed fit and will take his place in Central Districts' XI for their State Shield match against Wellington at Waikanae Park today.

Sulzberger missed Central's match against Northern Districts in New Plymouth on Friday because of a broken finger, an injury suffered two days earlier in a match against Canterbury at the same venue. The all-rounder underwent a fitness test this morning and convinced coach Dipak Patel that he is fit to bat and bowl in today's match between the top and bottom teams in the Shield competition.

Central have called medium pacer Ewen Thompson into their match lineup in place of left-armer Lance Hamilton who was a member of the side which lost heavily to Northern. David Kelly has been named 12th man and Greg Todd is also omitted from the squad.

Wellington have left out medium pacer Andrew Penn, who was struck by illness during their match against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve on Friday and who bowled fewer than five overs before being forced from the field. His place is taken by Ashley Turner and off-spinner Jeetan Patel is once again 12th man.

Canterbury inflicted Wellington's first loss in seven Shield matches on Friday when they won the Basin Reserve match by 36 runs. This match offers Wellington the chance to re-establish their winning run and to ensure themselves a place in the Shield semifinals. Friday's loss to Canterbury left them only two points ahead of Northern Districts in the playoff race.

Wellington won the toss today and chose to bat first on a used pitch, cracked in places and bristling with low grass.

Waikanae Park has been turned into a fairground for today's match. A carnival is in operation just over the boundary of the cricket field at the southern end of the picturesque domain. A ferris wheel and other rides loom over the ground and there are marquees, stalls and caravans offering all traditional fairground attractions.

A miniature train is circling the ground carrying a load of smiling youngsters. Many attracted by the fair are expected to turn their attention to the cricket later in the day.

The weather is gloomy, however, and a faint wind-borne drizzle has been falling for much of the morning. The heavy rain which has fallen in Wellington throughout the morning is being borne north by a cool southerly breeze.

Teams:

Central Districts: Matthew Sinclair, Jamie How, Ben Smith, Richard King, Glen Sulzberger (captain), Bevan Griggs, Campbell Furlong, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Ewen Thompson, Brent Hefford, David Kelly (12th man), Greg Todd (13th).

Wellington: Matthew Bell (captain), Chris Nevin, Richard Jones, Grant Donaldson, David Sales, Matthew Walker, Mark Jefferson, Mayu Pasupati, Mark Gillespie, Paul Hitchcock, Ashley Turner, Jeetan Patel (12th man), Andrew Penn (13th).