6th Match: Otago v Auckland at Alexandra, 5 Jan 2002 CricInfo Live Report

6th Match: Otago v Auckland at Alexandra, 5 Jan 2002
Warwick Larkins

Otago innings: Halfway., Lunch,
Auckland innings: After 25 overs., Stumps,
Pre-game: Otago's Innings,

AUCKLAND MAKE NO RACE WITH SEVEN WICKET WIN.

Matthew Horne brought up his fifty in the 27th over from 72 balls and Auckland had reached 125/1-relentlessly pushing on for victory. Their batting had looked far more classy than Otago's who had relied on singles and two's and precious few boundaries to achieve its 206. With the northerners it was quite different as the ball sped over the smooth Molyneux turf to produce boundaries a plenty.

This flurry of scoring would suggest that the Otago bowling had been wayward when in fact it had not been too bad- it was just the class of Richardson and Horne that told the story.

And that continuity was endorsed .by Aaron Barnes who quickly went to 21 and was joined by Kyle Mills after Horne was bowled by Cumming for 60 off 82 balls. Auckland 141/2

Just 15 overs to go in the Auckland innings and 51 runs required at 3.18 per over but more importantly for Auckland they had only lost 2 wickets.

To add to Otago's list of injury woes it has just been advised that Warren McSkimming had hurt his back again and would take no further part in the match. Prior to this happening Evan Marshall, Bradley Scott, Shayne O'Connor, James McMillan and Kerry Walmsley had all been on the injured list- thankfully Walmsley was now back in action but the others and now McSkimming were still in serious doubt.

36 overs completed- Auckland 164/2 ( Barnes 33 no; Mills 8 no ; )

Just 10 overs to go and Aaron Barnes got to his 50 in 65 balls and the Auckland total to 185/2. ( Mills 10 no ) Barnes innings had crept up unobtrusively and while not having quite the class or a Horne or Richardson was nevertheless most valuable and entertaining.

Barnes perhaps decided as Auckland got to within 17 runs of victory he might try and boost his one day average a little and hit a ball from Craig Pryor to Cumming who took a very sharp chance. Barnes had made 55 for 72 balls and Auckland 190/3. ( Mills 11 no ; Dion Nash 0 no ; )

The Auckland 200 was achieved in the 45th over and then to 204 by the end of it-only 3 runs from victory and 5 overs to get them.

They only needed one ball as Nash reversed swept Nathan McCullum for 4 and Auckland went to 208/3 and victory.

It was a deserved victory for them by 7 wickets as they looked and were a much stronger unit than the home side. Eight current or past NZ reps is not to be sneezed at and it all added up to a big superiority for them.

Otago Bowling- David Sewell 7-1-32-0 ; Kerry Walmsley 8-1-23-0 ; Warren McSkimming 5-0-31-0 ; Craig Cumming 9-2-35-1 ; Craig Pryor 8-0-42-2 ; Nathan McCullum 9-0-37-0

AUXCKLAND RELENTLESSLY PUSH FOR VICTORY.

The 26th over of the innings produced a major disappointment for Otago when Chris Gaffaney was caught wicket-keeper Reece Young bowled Dion Nash for 4. Otago 108/3 ( Craig Cumming 55no ; Robbie Lawson 0 no ; )

Otago ,with the dismissal of Gaffaney had slowed up considerably and had only scored 33 runs in the last 10 overs which was too paltry in a 50 overs match.. 31 overs gone- Otago 124/3 ( Cumming 63 no ; Lawson 4 no ; ) and it was time to accelerate. Acceleration came in the form of a good four backward of square by Cumming off the bowling of Nash. Cumming soon after tried to hit Mark Haslam for a boundary but was brilliantly caught one handed by Tama Canning for 70 . Otago 134/4 ( Lawson 6 no ; Martyn Croy 0 no ; )- 33 overs completed.

Otago were unfortunately for them batting themselves into a hole- the only scoring shots were nervous singles almost resulting in at least 3 run outs but Lawson and Croy soldiered on. The Auckland bowling was proving very economical with particularly Chris Drum going through a purple patch. Dion Nash had finished his 10 and had conceeded 45 runs while capturing 1 wicket. Haslam with 16 from his 7 overs bowled to date was very troublesome .

The heat of the Molyneux Park sun was tempered by a south westerly breeze and quite a few dark clouds had appeared on the horizon-perhaps another rain day looming. Events turned dark for Martyn Croy when in the 39th over he was stumped by Reece Young off Haslam for 7.

Otago 151/5 ( Lawson 16 no ; Craig Pryor 0 no ; ) Otago had not scored a boundary for 12 overs but remedied this in the 44th over with a four to Lawson off Andre Adams through the non existent slip area. Otago 171/5 ( Lawson 28 no ; Pryor 7 no ; )

Tama Canning commenced the 45th over and Pryor took a good four off it through mid- on. At its conclusion 178/5 Otago.

Pryor going for a big hit off Canning was caught by Haslam at short fine leg for 12 . Otago 182/6.

The 48th over began with Otago 185/6 -a collection of 5 runs and 190 with 2 overs to go.

Over 49 saw Lawson given out by Umpire Doug Cowie LBW well down the pitch for 37. Otago 192/7

Andre Adams to bowl the 50th and final over - Otago 198/7- 1st ball- Warren McSkimming smacks him over widish mid off for 4, a couple of singles and a leg bye and the Otago innings finishes on 206/7.

The Auckland Bowling figures- Dion Nash - 10-0-45-1 ; Andre Adams 10-0-47-1 ; Mark Haslam 10-0-30-2 ; Chris Drum 10-0-31-0; Tama Canning 8-0-36-2 ; Kyle Mills 1-0-3-1 ( injured himslef ) Brooke Walker 1-0-4-0 ;

From an Otago aspect bowling to an Auckland batting lineup 206 would seem to be not enough runs. Auckland need to get the 206 in 40.1 overs to secure a bonus point. We resume in 45 minutes.

OTAGO BECALMED IN FACE OF STEADY AUCKLAND ATTACK.

Tama Canning commenced the 45th over and Pryor took a good four off it through mid- on. At its conclusion 178/5 Otago.

Pryor going for a big hit off Canning was caught by Haslam at short fine leg for 12 . Otago 182/6.

The 48th over began with Otago 185/6 -a collection of 5 runs and 190 with 2 overs to go.

Over 49 saw Lawson given out by Umpire Doug Cowie LBW well down the pitch for 37. Otago 192/7

Andre Adams to bowl the 50th and final over - Otago 198/7- 1st ball- Warren McSkimming smacks him over widish mid off for 4, a couple of singles and a leg bye and the Otago innings finishes on 206/7.

From an Otago aspect bowling to an Auckland batting lineup 206 would seem to be not enough runs. Auckland need to get the 206 in 40.1 overs to secure a bonus point. We resume in 45 minutes.

OTAGO MAKE SOLID START

Andrew Hore scored a single off the first ball of the game from the bowling of Kyle Mills to set Otago on its way in the State Shield Match against Auckland at Molyneux Park , Alexandra but this early work for the scorers was short lived as on the fourth ball Brendon McCullum, trying to force the ball on the onside got a leading edge and was caught by Tama Canning running in at short mid off for 0. After one over Otago 3/1 ( Andrew Hore 1 no ; Craig Cumming 0 no ; )

Otago , after such an appalling start steadied itself and after 5 overs the total had reached 22/1 ( Cumming 10 no ; Hore 8 no ; ) Kyle Mills the Auckland and New Zealand bowler had left the field after one over holding a shoulder and had not returned -this consigned the Auckland attack to Canning and Chris Drum who at the conclusion of the 11th over saw the Otago total advance to 41/0. ( Hore 20no ; Cumming 15 no )

The Otago fifty came up in the 13th over and things from their perspective were proceeding satisfactorily if not spectacularly. Hore and Cumming were combining well with lots of singles, a few two's, indispersed with the odd boundary.

15 overs completed- a break for drinks and Otago 65/1 ( Cumming 30 no ; Hore 27 no ; )

Dion Nash was now into the attack for Auckland -this game would be a good workout for him before he joined the New Zealand team next Wednesday when they are to leave for the Tri-Series with Australia and South Africa in Australia. While Nash's batting still looks vibrant, his bowling might just have lost a bit of its old sting as 23 runs were scored off his first four overs.

The Otago total neared 100 and Cumming his 50 as also the half way stage of 25 overs in the Otago innings.

But, just as the Otago 100 was brought up Hore trying to force the pace was caught by Matt Horne running back to point from mid on off Andre Adams for 39. Otago 100/2 ( Cumming 49 no Chris Gaffaney 0 no ; )

Cumming deservedly reached his 50 off 59 balls in his first game as Otago captain ( he has previously captained Canterbury )and prepared himself to face former NZ Off Spinner Mark Haslam.

After 25 overs Otago 107/2 (Cumming 52no ; Gaffaney 4 no ; )

OTAGO PLAY SOUTH TO PLAY AUCKLAND.

Molyneux Park, Alexandra ,just a few kilometres down the road from Queenstown is the venue for the State Shield match between State Otago Volts and State Auckland Aces. Neither team have a point on the State Shield Points Table , Auckland with 2 loses from 2 games and Otago with a thrilling loss by 3 runs against Wellington in Queenstown. In fact, Auckland also experienced heart beating stuff when they lost off the last ball of the game to Canterbury.

Auckland, full of New Zealand representatives would have to start as favourites- Mark Richardson, Matt Horne, Dion Nash ( returning from a 3 match suspension ) , Kyle Mills and Andre Adams present a very impressive lineup and will be well assisted by their Captain Brooke Walker, Chris Drum and Mark Haslam.

Otago on the other hand are playing on one of their home grounds and with batting conditions certain to be more favourable than at Queenstown their batting lineup has considerable potential with new NZ Representative Brendon McCullum and Craig Cumming the Otago captain today in place of Lee Germon who is injured possessing the ability to create big scores.The exciting Chris Gaffaney also relishing being near his hometown of Cromwell and Kerry Walmsley who is approaching all rounder status are others the southerners look to for big performances.

The day is warm and pleasant and play will start on time at mid-day with good prospects of being uninterrupted throughout the day but it should be added that with the summer Central Otago and indeed the rest of New Zealand is experiencing as regards rain anything could happen.

Auckland have won the toss and put Otago into bat with the respective twelvth men being Rob Smith for Otago and Nick Horsley for Auckland.

Otago- Craig Cumming (Captain ) , Brendon McCullum , Andrew Hore , Chris Gaffaney, Rob Lawson , Martyn Croy , Craig Pryor, Nathan McCullum ,Kerry Walmsley , David Sewell , Warren McSkimming/ James McMillan.

Auckland - Brooke Walker (Captain) , Mark Richardson , Matt Horne, Aaron Barnes , Dion Nash , Tama Canning , Kyle Mills , Andre Adams ,Reece Young , Chris Drum , Mark Haslam.