The Possibles, led by Llorne Howell, beat the Probables, captained by Gary Stead by 17 runs in a rather low-scoring encounter yesterday. Canterbury finished fifth of six sides in last year's Max competition, but is taking the event more seriously this season, said selection panel convener Brian McKechnie.

While overhead conditions were brilliant, those underfoot were less conducive to the abbreviated two 10 overs-a-side game. Some of the batting was mediocre.

The Probables side, which needed 86 to win in the final innings, succumbed to some accurate bowling by Hamish Barton and Carl Anderson.

Barton was one to shine, making a well-compiled 29 in the first innings off 18 balls while English professional Aftab Habib held the second innings together with 25 off 18 balls.

One newcomer who could press for future Max team selection was little known Probables bowler Andrew Richardson whose two two-overs spell each cost only six runs.

Several Probables players made double figures but none reached 20. Run getting was difficult on the holding outfield.

``The trial was well worthwhile because it gave us a chance to see some different players for the different type of game,''said McKechnie.

While Canterbury's New Zealand players will be available for the first two Max rounds, they will then be lost for much of the rest of the competition.

McKechnie said the bowling was probably of a higher standard than some of the players in the trials were consistently used to.

A Canterbury Max team will have an outing on November 1 against Otago in Timaru before the competition proper starts on November 6.

Short scoreboard:

Possibles 93-6 (H Barton 29, S Bond 18; A Richardson 1-6) and 76-7 (A Habib 25, extras 18; G Barrett 3-13) beat Probables 84-7 (Extras 17; C Cornelius 3-19, S Cunis 2-14) and 68 (G Barrett 16; H Barton 3-26, C McGillivray 2-5).