Four teams in trophy chase

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 92

Four teams in trophy chase

By

JOHN COFFEY

The Shell Trophy is to be brought to Christchurch today by a representative of the sponsoring company. But there is no certainty a presentation will actually take place at Lancaster Park.

Northern Districts, which led into the last round of the competition, had its sight of the trophy blurred during a murky second day against Canterbury yesterday. A disappointing batting display by Northern left it trailing on the first innings by 118 runs. Although Northern’s mood brightened with the quick dismissal of both Canterburys’ opening batsmen, the weather did not, and valuable time was lost. Poor light and some rain cost Northern a total of 88 minutes — a vital factor as anxious checks were being made of Wellington’s progress at the Basin Reserve, and the respective fortunes of Otago and Auckland at Carisbrook. The man bearing the trophy also carries an airline ticket which allows him the options of travelling on to Dunedin or returning to Wellington. At least this time there will not be the utter confusion of the old countback system if two sides finish level — but how are trophy presentations made simultaneously at different venues if there is a tie? Northern needs to beat Canterbury outright to claim the 12 points which would dash the hopes of its three pursuers. To do that it will have to bat with more authority today than was evident in its first innings. True, frequent interruptions added

to Northern’s difficulties, but there was a distinct impression that the heart went out of the innings when Graeme Hick "failed.” , - Hick’s 41 runs from 52 balls represented princely progress in the context of the complete innings, and he loomed as a severe threat to Canterbury when reaping 17 runs from an over by Mark Chamberlain. The overnight batsmen, Kyle Wealleans and Adil Somani, had conscientiously paved the way fqr Hick’s entry. However, a stoppage for rain and four inspections of the ball could hardly have aided concentration in the dim conditions. Briefly though, Hick advanced rapidly past Wealleans. Such was his timing and effortless air that he looked like an adult selfishly dominating a children’s pick-up game. But just before lunch the umpires decided a change of ball was required. They returned with a projectile which Stu Roberts transformed into a hand grenade. Roberts slowed Hick with a maiden over, beat his illustrious opponent’s defensive stroke, then whipped the off-stump from the turf with a fearsomely fast yorker. It was a ball to dine out on for years. Wealleans, after 170 minutes of resistance, and Grant Bradburn soon followed Hick. Shane

Barrett had Ben Harris leg before wicket to his third ball and Brendon Bracewell enticed Blair Hartland into touching a catch to the slips, an appeal against the light was inevitable. . So the Shell Trophy will be at the park this morning. How long it remains on display, and its destination, might be mostly in the hands of two record-breaking batsmen, Paul McEwan and Hick. CANTERBURY First innings 343/4 dec. Second innings B. Z. Harris lbw b Barrett 0 B. R. Hartland c Kuggeleijn b Bracewell 3 P. G. Kennedy not out. . . 0 P. E. McEwan not out. . . 0 Extras 0 Total (for 2 wkts) 3 Fall: 3, 3. Bowling.— B. P. Bracewell 1.3, 1,0, 1; B. J. Barrett 1,0, 3, 1. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings K. A. Wealleans c Hartland b Latham 31 D. J. White c Harris b Ford i A. Somani c Germon b Ford 11 G. A. Hick b Roberts. ... 41 G. E. Bradburn lbw b Roberts 5 C. M. Kuggeleijn c Latham b Chamberlain 49 S. A. Thomson b Nuttall. . 21 B. A. Young b Ford .... 43 C. L. Cairns b Chamberlain 10 B. P. Bracewell c Latham b Chamberlain 4 B. J. Barrett not out... . 0 Extras (bl, lbs, nb3).... 9 Total . 225 Fall: 4, 42, 90, 98, 106, 130, 199, 221, 225, 225. Bowling.— S. J. Roberts 21, 4, 51, 2 (nb3); R. M. Ford 17, 4, 37, 3; M. W. Priest 18, 5. 35, 0; M. C. Chamberlain 17.2, 2, 65, 3; R. T. Latham 10, 7, 15, 1; A. J. Nuttall 4,1, 16, 1. Umpires: B. L. Aldridge and R. L. McHarg.

Thomson gave evidence of his emerging talent until bowled by Andrew Nuttall’s first delivery and, at 130 for six, Northern was facing the ignominy of a follow-on. But Chris Kuggeleijn and Bryan Young knuckled down in a partnership of 69 runs in even time, exceeding by 14 the previous best Northern seventh-wicket stand against Canterbury. They were parted when Kuggeleijn became Chamberlain’s first victim at this level of cricket. A generally drab day was given a few rays of sunshine as Young handsomely hit five of his seven boundaries through the off-side, and Kuggeleijn indulged himself with a couple of lofted straight fours from Nuttall. But the later wickets fell quickly in the quest for faster runs. The young Canterbury medium-fast trio had cause to be very satisfied with the day’s work. Roberts was quite lethal in his most inspired spell. Chamberlain embellished his debut with three wickets, but Roger Ford topped both those efforts by his consistency and penetration. Nor was there any relief for Northern when Rod Latham and Mark Priest demanded the utmost respect for their slower deliveries. Canterbury was to have batted 12 overs until stumps. But when Brian