Cricket: Auckland aim for top and home final

Promising Auckland batsman Jeet Raval is taking Andre Adams' place. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Win, and cross the fingers.

That might be Auckland's mindset going into the eighth and final round of one-day matches today.

They are assured of a semifinal place at the weekend but victory over Wellington at the Basin Reserve today could get them top spot, and set up a potential home final on February 13.

But the other part of that particular puzzle calls for leaders Canterbury to lose to Otago at Timaru today.

Otago are also in the playoffs but Canterbury are in the box seat, a win having them in the 1 v 2 semifinal at home and ideally placed to have the final contested in Christchurch.

There is even the slight possibility that the fifth-placed Wellington could sneak into the semifinals, if they beat Auckland by a mile, pick up a bonus point and jump ahead of fourth-placed Northern Districts on run rate, should ND get well beaten in Whangarei by bottom side Central Districts.

So there's no shortage of intrigue.

Auckland have made a change from the side which beat Otago. Allrounder Andre Adams' place goes to promising batsman Jeet Raval.

They have left out Kyle Mills, even though he was unwanted for yesterday's ODI against Pakistan. The tight finish to the Pakistan tour, with the fifth ODI at Hamilton tomorrow, means Mills was not released in case he's in the XI for that game.

However, left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock was released to play for Wellington today, ironically replacing national squad teammate James Franklin, who was called in for yesterday's ODI to replace another Wellington player, Jesse Ryder.

Michael Pollard comes in for the injured Ryder today.

Auckland coach Paul Strang's mind is only on events at the Basin today.

"There's plenty that could happen that's outside of our control so we're just going to worry about what we need to do and that's win the game," he said.

"If that lands us in first or second spot then even better."

Wellington have won just two games, but in former New Zealand new ball bowler Mark Gillespie, they have the leading wicket taker in the competition, with 16 at 17.68.

"They've got quality players and they almost chased down 300 against us last time so we won't be taking things for granted," Strang added.

ND have former international batsman Daniel Flynn back after an injury layoff, replacing Brook Hatwell, for their game against CD.

Of the top four, ND are the only one who must win to avoid missing out on the semifinals.

Canterbury are chasing their fifth win of the competition against Otago. In Rob Nicol they have the outstanding allrounder of the competition. He heads the batting with 437 runs at 72.83 and has taken nine wickets with his offspin at 25.44 apiece.

Points: Canterbury 21, Auckland 18, Otago 16, ND 14, Wellington 10, CD 8.

NATIONAL ONE-DAY COMPETITION

Eighth round, all start 11am today

Wellington v Auckland, Basin Reserve:

Wellington: Grant Elliott (c), Michael Pollard, Stephen Murdoch, Cam Merchant, Stewart Rhodes, Luke Woodcock, Harry Boam, Joe Austin-Smellie, Mark Houghton, Mark Gillespie, Andy McKay, Dewayne Bowden.

Auckland: Gareth Hopkins (c), Tim McIntosh, Lou Vincent, Jeet Raval, Anaru Kitchen, Greg Todd, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Tuffey, Roneel Hira, Michael Bates, Chris Martin.

Northern Districts v Central Districts, Whangarei

ND: James Marshall (c), Daniel Flynn, Brad Wilson, BJ Watling, Anton Devcich, Joseph Yovich, Peter McGlashan, Trent Boult, Jason Donnelly, Bradley Scott, Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel.

CD: (possible) Kruger van Wyk (c), Peter Ingram, George Worker, Mathew Sinclair, Brad Patton, Tim Weston, Doug Bracewell, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Michael Mason, Tarun Nethula, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan.

Canterbury v Otago, Timaru

Canterbury: Peter Fulton (c), Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Shanan Stewart, Dean Brownlie, Reece Young, Andrew Ellis, Todd Astle, Carl Frauenstein, Mitchell Clayton, Richard Sherlock, Ryan McCone.

Otago: Craig Cumming (c), Aaron Redmond, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Darren Stevens, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Nick Beard, Warren McSkimming, Neil Wagner.