Cricket: Auckland slump to 125 run loss

Mark Gillespie snared four wickets for 44. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Wellington cantered to a 125-run victory at Colin Maiden Park yesterday after yet another poor Auckland batting display.

The visitors added 24 runs to their overnight 138 for eight, setting the home team 270 to win off a minimum of 97 overs. Paceman Chris Martin, who took four wickets in the Wellington second innings, and spinner Bruce Martin, who took five, were contemplating an afternoon's rest in the autumn sunshine.

Some hope. The brittle Auckland batting never looked likely to threaten the target and by lunch they were 81 for seven and threatening not to make three figures. Only a late flurry by Michael Bates, who was 32 not out at the end, lifted the total to 144 in 44 overs.

Credit must go to the Wellington pace bowlers, who maintained a tight off-stump line, forcing the batsmen to play and taking advantage of whatever movement they extracted from the pitch. The best figures were 4 for 44 by former Black Cap Mark Gillespie, who received sturdy support from former Aucklander Andy McKay (3/30) and Ili Tugaga (2/25).

Offspinner Jetan Patel, who had been expected to play a leading role on the final day, took one wicket but was hardly a factor.

The catching behind the wicket was faultless with Michael Pollard taking five catches during the match, two of which were worthy of highlight reels.

Colin Maiden Park is certainly not the batsmen's paradise it was last season but the Auckland batsmen seem to be suffering from a collective lack of confidence.

In two innings 33 was the top score, from Jeet Raval in the first innings and Brad Cachopa in the second.

The loss has cemented Auckland's place at the bottom of the Plunket Shield table. They will be hoping for better things when they play Canterbury at Colin Maiden Park from Monday.

The top-of-the-table clash between Central Districts and Otago at McLean Park, Napier was abandoned with only eight overs bowled in four days.

In Rangiora, the skies cleared to enable Canterbury to force a first innings result on the last day of their match against Otago, whose first innings spanned all four days due to the poor weather.

Despite the best efforts of captain Craig Cumming, who hit a defiant 106 not out over 365 minutes, Otago added only 46 runs yesterday at a cost of four wickets as they were dismissed for 199 in their first innings, leaving Canterbury time to collect two points when they reached 200 for five after tea.

Fifth-placed Otago remain a title chance despite the result and sit just six points behind Central Districts.