Northern beats Canty in thrilling finish

Press, 10 December 1982, Page 32

Northern beats Canty in thrilling finish

PA Auckland Northern Districts gained rich reward for their persistence when they defeated Canterbury in a thrilling finish yesterday and gained the outright lead in the national under-22 cricket tournament. Entering the last day of the prudential tournament Northern Districts have 24 points from four first innings wins. Auckland, which gained a dashing win over Otago by 99 runs, has moved to second, equal with Canterbury on 18 points. Central Districts, which beat Wellington by nine wickets yesterday, and Otago have six point's, and Wellington none. Today Canterbury has the easier draw, against Wellington, while Northern Districts will play Auckland. Today Auckland hit batting form, with Trevor Franklin scoring 152 not out of a total of 248 for two. If Auckland can maintain this form Northern Districts, the eager-beavers, will have to work even harder than they have all this week. Should Northern win. the title is theirs. However, should Canterbury beat Wellington and Auckland defeat Northern Districts three teams will tie on 24 points. The winner will then be decided on runs-per-wicket for and against, and Auck-

land, after its heavy scoring yesterday and its cheap dismissals of Central and Wellington early in the tournament, could make a late run for the championship. Canterbury was 67 for four yesterday when Rod Latham (68) and Mark Priest (59) put some body in the innings, and once again the tail wagged busily; Canterbury reaching 238 for nine from its 66 overs. With a shortish boundary and fast outfield three or more runs an over was not an impossible task for Northern, especially after Steve Doleman (29)' and Murray Stabler, who went on to a valiant 71, scored 50 in even time for the first wicket. With Stabler holding one end intact Derek Beard (49) went for his shots, and they scored 92 in about even time. However, Beard was caught, Paul Hodder run out and, at 173 for four. Stabler at last defeated after a fine three-hour battle. By now Northern wanted rather more than four, runs an over, and Roger Bradley cracked a fast 30 to keep Northern within range. With eight overs left, 24 runs were wanted. CANTERBURY ' ,1. Radonovich run out. 23

J: Leggat c Campbell b Smith 5 D. Boyle c Bradley b Smith . 9 R. Latham c Young b White. 68 M. Bremner lbw b Campbell 6 M. Priest run out 59 J. Samson e Hodder b While. 10 M. Chamberlain c Young b Campbell 11 P. Rutledge not out 19 D. McMillan b White 3 W. Lawrence not out 4 Extras (bB. Ib9. nb3. wl). 21 Total for nine wickets 238 Fall: 22. 34. 59. 77. 138. 156. 193. 206. 222. Bowling.— K. Fahev. 16. 4. 58. 0; C. Smith. 15. 5.‘31. 2; R. Bradley. 4. 1. 19. 0; D. White. 13. O. 44. 3:1. Campbell. 18. 0. 65. 2. NORTHERN DISTRICTS S. Doleman lbw b Priest. . 29 M. Stabler c sub (Hamilton) b Priest . .. . 71 D. Beard c Rutledge b Chamberlain 49 P. Hodder run out 4 D. White not out 22 R. Bradley run out 30 P. Duncan not out 22 Extras (bB. Ib4. nbl. wl). 14 Total for five wickets 241 Fall: 51. 145. 154. 173. 214. Bowling.— D. McMillan. 16.4. 2. 64. 0: M. Chamberlain. 13. 0. 44. 1; W. Lawrence. 6.2. 1. 19. 0: M. Priest. 15. 2. 53. 2; R. Latham. 12. I. 47. 0. Central Districts 121 T (T. Rohrs 73. R. Hart 29 n o.) beat Wellington 117 (T. Ritchie 47; G. McKenzie 6 '53). Auckland 248'2 (T. Franklin 152 n. 0.. M. Greatbatch 40) beat Otago (149 T. McKeown 56; P. Neutze 5 32).