Narrow lead for Wgtn in Shell Trophy

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 21

Narrow lead for Wgtn in Shell Trophy

P A Wellington Wellington nosed into a three-point lead over Central Districts. 35 to 32. after the third round of Shell Trophy cricket matches on Saturday. Auckland, topping the league table and ahead of Wellington by eight points after the second round of the eight-round series, slipped into third place as Central beat them by eight runs in the most exciting match of the round at Napier's McLean Park.

The trophy holder. Wellington. took on the role of the front-runner with 16 points gained from a comfortable seven-wicket win against Otago at Molyneaux Park. Alexandra — a match highlighted by a maiden first class century from Otago’s Bruce Blair. Otago's man of the match hit 12 fours and a six in scoring 106 from 165 balls. The Northern DistrictsCanterbury match at Seddon Park, Hamilton, was rained off shortly after play had resumed after tea — North-' ern taking points for a first innings lead. The end came with Canterbury 313 for six in its second innings with the man of the match, the lefthander, Vaughan Brown, still there at the end with an unbeaten 118.

However, it was at Napier where the spectators were treated to a nail-biting finish. Auckland, chasing 284 for victory, at one stage looked set for victory with 200 runs on the board for three wickets. But they crumbled spectacularly in the face of a blitz from Denis'Aberhart as the Central bowler took six wickets for 55. At 269 for seven Auckland still looked set for the win, but two blows by Aberhart in his fifteenth over toppled them towards defeat. At 273

he had the Auckland wicketkeeper, Paul Kelly, eighth man out. caught at midwicket, and two balls later trapped Warren Stott leg before. Auckland had built their solid opening with fine knocks from the captain, John Reid (54), Martin Crowe (57) and a career-best 61 from Alan Hunt. At Alexandra, the man of the match was Wellington's pace bowler Tony Pigott, who took five wickets from each innings. Even so, the Sussex player came in for some harsh treatment at times — Brendon Bracewell cracked him for 22 in one over on the way to his unbeaten 36, his highest first class score.

At Hamilton, the centurymaker. Brown, who hit in 202 miriutes, was given staunch support by the left-hander, David Stead, the pair taking Canterbury's score from 158 for four wickets to 268 for five wickets. The main destroyer of the top Canterbury batting in its first innings. Mark Carrington, had him caught by Chris Kuggeleijn. Round tour matches on January 13. 14. 15 will be: Otago v. Central Districts. Dunedin, University Oval; Canterbury v. Wellington. Christchurch; Northern Districts v. Auckland. Gisborne.