CRICKET - Motivating players easy in Dunning tournament

Brad Wilson isn't finding it hard to motivate the Northland cricket team as they comfortably defeated Poverty Bay in the first match of the Brian Dunning one-day tournament in Taupo.
Wilson's knock of 95 yesterday in only his second game as captain helped his team to a six-wicket win as they chased down what turned out to be an average Poverty Bay first-innings score of 198 all out.
The 23-year-old Kaipara Flats opener said it was important for Northland to do well in their three games in Taupo this week.
He said the memory of the Northland and Northern Districts great - whom the tournament was named after and who died in February this year - was a motivating factor for the team.
"We really want to do well at this year because Brian (Dunning) passed away earlier this year, that's been big motivation for us and we've talked about it a lot as a team," he said.
But there was more than one reason he was happy with the first-up win.
"It's important for us in that sense but it's also important because we've got five or six new players in the side and it could be looked on as a rebuilding year for us so if we can do well this year then that's going to be a good sign for things to come."
Wilson is happy with his own form with the bat this year and his partnership of 171 with Ian Page (59) sealed Poverty Bay's fate.
"Things are going pretty well for me at the moment and it's a matter of trying to make hay while the sun shines," he said.
He was happy with the bowling effort, particularly Stephen John's four wickets.
John was outstanding with the ball for Northland and was easily the pick of the bowlers taking four for 19 off 9.2 overs, including a great opening spell.
The spinners Tim Anderson (2/42) and Chris Page (1/37) both had an impact with John Child also taking a wicket while the young pace men, Josh Matthews and Josh Ashley, were both a little expensive but will benefit from the experience.
New coach Graham Barlow was also delighted with the result.
"It was a good opening game first up but I think there's quite a lot to improve on, fielding wise, we were pretty good on a rough outfield, but we allowed them to get a couple of partnerships together by bowling on both sides of the wicket," he said.