N.D. storms to lead in trophy series

Press, 9 February 1989, Page 34

N.D. storms to lead in trophy series

PA Hamilton Northern Districts scored an emphatic eight-wicket win over Auckland at Hamilton’s Seddon Park yesterday to storm to the lead in the Shell Trophy cricket competition.

Northern, having scored 274 in its first innings, dismissed Auckland for 107 and 229 and wiped off the 63 runs needed for victory in 9.1 overs. It took a maximum 16 points from the match, and, with a total of 52 points from seven matches, has a 10-point buffer at the top of the Shell Trophy table. Auckland, despite not taking a single point from the match, lies second. Very steady seam bowling by the opening pair of Brendon Bracewell and Brian Barrett set . up Northern’s victory yesterday. When Auckland resumed at 91 for seven, this morning, Paul Kelly and Danny Morrison progressed slowly but surely towards Auckland’s first major target of 125 to avoid the follow on. They looked to be doing it comfortably and then Barrett entered the fray with a vengeance. Bowling better than he had done previously this season, he took three wickets in five balls to have Auckland all out for 107, 18 runs short of the follow on mark. Barrett finished with four wickets for 32, his best return in first class cricket. The Northern captain, Chris Kuggeleijn, had no hesitation in asking Auckland to follow on 167 in arrears. And it was the Brace-well-Barrett combination

that set Northern on the way to outright success when they removed the former international openers and Auckland dangermen, Phil Horne and Trevor Franklin, by the time the score had reached 44. Auckland then staged a minor recovery through Richard Reid and Martin Pringle, and they looked likely to foil Northern’s attempt to gain maximum points. Both played some superb shots, mostly through the covers, as they added 75 for the third wicket but then both went out to reckless shots and Northern sensed victory. Stephen Brown and the wicket-keeper, Paul Kelly, threatened to deny Northern its objective in the later stages of the innings but Brendon Bracewell came back with the new ball to pick up three further wickets, two in the one over, and Northern was set 63 to win in a maximum of 17 overs. • A former New Zealand test captain, Geoff Howarth, yesterday addressed a strong plea to New Zealand cricket followers and the media — don’t put too much pressure on the Northern Districts’ rising star, Chris Cairns. The teenage son of the former test all-rounder Lance Cairns hit his maiden first-class century

in the Shell Trophy game against Auckland at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Tuesday. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings 274 Second innings D. White not out 17 B. Young c Kelly b Morrison 5 G. Hick c (sub) Kimber b Morrison 33 S. Thomson not out ... . 5 Extras (nbs)s Total (for 2 wkts) 65 Fall: 7. 60. Bowling: D. Morrison 5,0, 33, 2 (nbs); R. De Groen 2,0, 14, 0; S. Brown 2,0, 14, 0; T. Franklin, O. 0,4, 0. .. AUCKLAND First innings 107 Second innings P. Horne c Young b Bracewell 2 T. Franklin lbw Barrett. . 23 R. Reid c McKenzie b Somani 54 M. Pringle c Cairns b Kuggeleijn 60 P. Hounsell lbw McKenzie 1 S. Brown run out 50 W. Fowler c White b Kuggeleijn 3 P. Kelly c White b Bracewell 21 D. Morrison b Bracewell. 0 P. Neutze c White b Bracewell 0 R. de Groen not out. ... 0 Extras (bl lb 7 nb6 wl). . 15 Total 229 Fall: 12, 44, 129, 130, 162, 167, 217, 225, 225. Bowling: B. Bracewell 21.3, 2, 55, 4 (nbl, wl); C. Cairns 16, 3, 47, 0 (nb'2); B. Barrett 21, 9, 33, I; C. Kuggeleijn 19, 12, 16, 2; A. Somani 9,0, 36, 1; S. Thomson 5,1, 16, 0; G. McKenzie 5,2, 12, 1 (nb3); G. Hick 2,0, 6, 0. Northern Districts won by eight wickets, and takes 16 points. Man of match: C. Cairns (N.D.).

Umpires: T. McCall and L. Jones.