Cricket: Aces to travel after top order collapses

By Terry Maddaford

Nail-biting finishes at Eden Park and the Basin Reserve yesterday ended Auckland's hopes of a top-two finish and gave Saturday's double-life Shell Cup semifinal to efending champions Northern Districts and Wellington.

In choking the Auckland Aces as they chased 150 for victory, Northern booked a home game at Hamilton's WestpacTrust Park. The David Trist-coached Aces will travel to Christchurch to play Canterbury under lights on Saturday.

Yesterday Canterbury scored 298 for five - Chris Harris 78 not out - in the day-night clash with Central Districts.

Led by a return to form by captain Craig Spearman before he was run out for 69, Central had some hope but in the end a rejuvenated Canterbury effort won through as they dismissed CD for 219.

Auckland went into yesterday's game - played on the same strip on which they beat Canterbury on Saturday - knowing they had to win to guarantee a top-two finish.

In dismissing Northern for 149 after some fiery bowling at the top of the innings from Chris Drum and later the expert control from spinners Brooke Walker and Mark Haslam, the home side had every chance. But their top order - with the exception of Lou Vincent (a career Cup high 74 before being superbly undone by a spectacular caught and bowled by Daniel Vettori in his first Cup outing of the season) - again failed to meet the challenge.

Vincent and Adam Parore added 39 for the third wicket and Vincent and Haslam 26 for the ninth. There was not much else as Scott Styris ripped the heart from the Auckland effort and Vettori added the icing with two for 22 from 10.

"With three good spinners we felt we could compete even though it was a small target," said ND captain Robbie Hart who again showed his exceptional leadership skills in getting the best from his attack. "I'm always happy to chop and change the bowlers."

Simon Doull will come into the Northern squad for the semifinal while Dion Nash will travel with the Aces.

In Wellington, plucky Otago scored 211 for nine and chipped out sufficient Wellington batsmen to ensure the interest would be there until the end.

Although hampered by injury, veteran Richard Petrie played a crucial middle-order role as Wellington edged closer. A couple of dropped catches late in the innings cost Otago dearly but in the end Wellington got home with three wickets and five balls to spare. The Wellington Firebirds have beaten Northern twice this season - the last time on Saturday in Hamilton.

The winner of Friday's game will play the loser of the Saturday semifinal next Wednesday to find the second finalist on Waitangi Day.