Wgtn still leading

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 3

Wgtn still leading

PA Wellington Wellington snatched a fourwicket win over Otago with two balls remaining in their Shell Trophy cricket match at the Basin Reserve yesterday. A lofted off-drive for two by Ross Ormiston clinched the win. to climax a sustained Wellington batting effort headed by Ervin MeSweeney (60 not out). Bruce Edgar (58) and the captain, John Morrison (43). With Northern Districts heading to beat Auckland. Wellington had to beat Otago to maintain its lead at the top of the trophy table. But it had a formidable target of 268 in 118 minutes, plus 20 overs in the last hour.

Wellington had to score more than five runs an over, and although Otago was soon to lose its opening bowler, Brendon Bracewell with a recurrence of a hamstring injury, the left-arm spinner. Stephen Boock, and the visiting Australian mediumpacer. Bruce Abernethy were in no mood to offer easy runs.

In 12 overs to tea Wellington reached 46-0 but still the goal was a mammoth one. Even when the Wellington batsman took advantage of the Otago captain, Warren Lees' highly attacking fields to score freely, the rate was more than six runs-an-over

when the final 20 started with Wellington 132-2 from 31. In the third of them Wellington suffered a "mortal" blow when Edgar was stumped at 1463, his tally including eight heautifullv struck boundaries.

With Morrison in rampant mood, giving himself room to erack the ball through the offside, hope remained. And .he brought the crowd to its feet in clouting Boock to mid-wicket for six. A ball or two later though, he was caught by Wayne Blair at mid-off.

MeSweeney. promoted in the order to No. 5. then came into his own. With a good eye, and neat footwork, he continually had the crowd roaring as he blazed II) fours. So decisive had he been that with 10 overs to go 59 was wanted, and with eight left the margin was down to 48. After Wellington had lost Evan Gray and Brian Cederwall at 220 MeSweeney and an equally-calm Ormiston kept the runs coming.

Three overs from home Wellington was still 21 runs short. At that stage MeSweeney hit the first of two fours to the vacant mid-wicket boundary off Boock. which were so vital to his team's win.

The second of them from the first ball of the last over left Wellington wanting two runs off

live balls. Ormiston made sure with two off the fourth ball of the over to end it all.