Cricket: Auckland come up aces thanks to Mills

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

There would be no argument after the first day of the final round of Shell Trophy cricket that the Auckland Aces have the shortest tail in the country.

In a game likely to decide who will play the trophy final against Northern Districts, Central Districts were left wondering how they let Auckland off the hook to reach 270-9 at stumps at Colin Maiden Park, but they need go beyond the fact that Auckland's tail-enders can really bat.

Auckland skipper Blair Pocock lost his fifth toss in five trophy matches, and after consigning the $2 coin he used into perpetual orbit accepted CD's invitation to bat.

CD's opening attack of Andrew Penn and left-armer Lance Hamilton found movement from the pitch and Auckland lost wickets at 9 (John Aiken for 8) and 34 (Pocock 9), both to Hamilton.

Stephen Lynch and Richard King, with 23 and 26 respectively, steadied the innings but both were dismissed after lunch to Penn and Jacob Oram respectively with the score motionless at 74.

Auckland lost their fifth wicket 11 runs later, their sixth at 128 and the seventh at 129.

Kyle Mills and Aaron Barnes were together at tea at 143. By mid-afternoon the wicket had settled down but the CD attack had remained accurate enough to contain and Auckland faced a tough scrap to hold second spot and a place in the trophy final.

They need not have worried. Mills has already smashed his highest first-class score with an unbeaten 84 against Wellington in an earlier trophy match, and was immediately into stride with some booming strokes down the ground.

The pair added 78 precious runs before Barnes, on 65, fell to a fine slip catch by Mark Greatbatch, coming out of retirement, from Hamilton.

Reece Young, having scored a duck in each of his last four first-class innings but fresh from a club century last weekend, supported Mills with some deft cricket.

When he went for 14, lbw to Tim Anderson, the score had reached 257 and Auckland were looking a good deal less vulnerable.

Andre Adams, the New Zealand record-holder for the fastest first-class 50 (from 20 balls), scored a quick dozen and Auckland will begin again this morning confident that three more good days will secure a finals berth.