Northern, Canty to clash for title?

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 40

Northern, Canty to clash for title?

PA Auckland he clash of the unbeaten Northern Districts and Canterbury sides at Cornwall Park this afternoon should produce the winner of the national under-22 cricket tournament. Northern scored its third win in the Prudential tournament yesterday when it beat Otago with an over and five wickets in hand, while Canterbury was kept in the field until well into the evening before getting the points from Central Districts. Auckland, after being skittled by Wellington for 98. fought back to win by 21 runs. Against Canterbury Central lost Andrew Marfell from the second ball of the innings, but recovered to 95 for three as Tony Blain and Steve Robertson fought back. The loss of further wickets again slowed its progress, but Blain batted to the end to finish unbeaten on 66 with a sound, controlled display. Auckland, sent in to bat on a pitch which crumbled quickly, began well enough as Mark Greatbatch and Trevor Franklin survived the often unpredictable bounce to score 43. Greatbatch was the first to go, quickly followed by Franklin and the, rest in quick succession to the medium pace of Michael Hayman.

Wellington's captain, Gavin Larsen, fought a lone battle as his side tried to reach the modest target. Determined to match Hayman's effort, the Auckland medium-pace trio of Sean Tracey, James Swift and lan Fisher were soon in command. Well supported by a field which took some excellent catches, this trio gathered nine wickets as the Wellington innings ran downhill. The leg-spinner, Peter Neutz, played his part in picking up one for 15 from seven overs. Otago, sent in to bat. needed a grand unbeaten 73 from Rhys Cain, batting at seven, to make a game of it against Northern. Cain, 63 minutes at the crease, hit five sixes and three fours to save an innings which, at 115 for six, was precariously balanced. Northern started well and at 109 without loss was poised to canter home. It lost some ground in losing five wickets by 150 before Paul Duncan and Roger Bradley got their side home with just the sixty-sixth over to spare. SCOFPS—CANTERBURY J. Radonovich. std Blain b Duff 43 J. Leggat. c Blain, b Stirling 9 D. Boyle, b Davie. 2 R. Latham, lbw. b McGregor 0 M. Bremner. C Robertson, b Stirling 23

M. Priest, b Brown 6 M. Chamberlain, c Blain, b Brown . 4 P. Rutledge, c Blain, b McGregor 22 D. McMillan, c Davie, b Duff 35 .1, Hamilton, c Davie, b Duff. 21 W. Lawrence, not out .... 11 Extras (bl. Ibs. nb6. w2). 14 Total (65.4 overs) 190 Fall: 31. 33. 34. 86. 92. 92. 98. 150. 157. Bowling.—D. Stirling. 16. 3. 49. 2: A. Davie. 8. 5. 12. 1; J. McGregor. 15. 3. 41. 2; S. Brown. 8. 3. 22. 2; S. Duff. 18.4, 6. 52. 3. CENTRAL DISTRICTS A. Marfell. c. Rutledge, b McMillan 0 R. Hart, c Leggat. b Lawrence . . . , 17 S. Pease, b Lawrence .... 16 S. Robertson, c Rutledge, b Chamberlain 30 T. Blain, not out 66 G. McKenzie, b Chamberlain 0 S. Brown, c Latham. ,b Chamberlain 7 S. Duff. lbw. b Chamberlain . 8 J. McGregor, run out ... . 4 D. Stirling, lbw. b Priest . . 2 A. Davie, run out 0 Extras (lb 4 4 Total (58.4 overs) 154 Fall: 0. 33. 46. 95. 95. 107. 121, 124, 146. Bowling.—D. McMillan. 14.4. 6. 32. 1; H. Chamberlain. 19. 4, 61. 4: J. Hamilton. 4. 0. 16. 0; W. Lawrence. 11. 2, 27. 2: M. Priest. 10. 4. 14. 1. Northern Districts 191 (S. Doleman 50. M. Stabler 44: P. Irvine 3/58) beat Otago 188 (R. Cain 73 n. 0.; I. Campbell 5/76). Auckland 98 (M. Greatbatch 30; M. Havman 4/18) beat Wellington 77 (J. Swift 4/19. S. Tracey 3/ 24).