KEY POINTS:
Craig McMillan had little success with the bat but provided the vital wickets that saw Canterbury beat Auckland by six runs in a thrilling finish at Eden Park yesterday.
Just when a 101-run partnership in 72 minutes between Andre Adams and Tama Canning seemed likely to see Auckland canter to victory early in the afternoon session, McMillan persuaded Adams to attempt one lofted drive too many and he was caught by Chris Small at deep mid-on for 65.
That made Auckland 263 for eight with nine runs required for a victory that earlier in the day had looked highly improbable.
Brandon Hiini trapped Tim Lythe in front for the addition of one run, Canning played out all but one ball of a McMillan over but last man Colin Munro was caught at the wicket off the final ball and Canterbury celebrated a famous victory.
Canning was left not out for 90, a 162-minute innings with 12 fours and a six that deserved a better reward.
Auckland had started the final day on 52 for two, needing 220 more for victory. Lou Vincent and Martin Guptill looked in little trouble and it was something of a surprise when Vincent was out. He reached 41 with a lofted drive, which might have been caught at mid-on, but was caught at slip flashing at the next ball from Hiini.
Guptill was taken at the wicket off Hiini for 30 and Rob Nicol and Paul Hitchcock followed quickly to leave Auckland floundering at 89 for six.
Canning and Reece Young stopped the rot and steadily blunted the Canterbury attack. Auckland's 100 took 168 balls but the 73-run seventh-wicket partnership quickened the tempo and raised hopes of a home victory.
Canterbury captain Chris Harris introduced leg-spinner Todd Astle and Young, who had grafted his way to 25, feathered his first ball to the wicketkeeper. Astle was on a hat-trick after taking the last wicket in the Auckland first innings but Adams had other ideas.
He launched a furious assault on the bowlers, taking 17 off Astle's second over and was equally hard on the rest of the attack. His 50 included seven fours and three sixes, one of which ended up in the Mobil service station on Sandringham Rd.
At lunch Auckland were 224 for seven with Canning on 69 and Adams on 51 and 48 runs required for victory.
The pace was more sedate after the break and, until McMillan snared Adams into a false shot, Auckland seemed to be cruising.
It was ironic that Adams and Canning were Auckland's batting heroes because they had also been the best of the bowlers. Adams took five wickets in Canterbury's second innings of 200 to go with the three he had on the first day. Canning proved an admirable foil bowling 17 overs for 19 runs and two wickets.
Harris with 52 and Hiini unbeaten on 39 were the pick of the Canterbury batsmen on a pitch that gave up only four scores over 50.
CD V Otago
The McLean Park pitch was declared the winner when the match between Central Districts and Otago ended in a draw in Napier yesterday.
The four-day fixture produced 1513 runs for the cost of 34 wickets although Otago had the consolation of collecting first innings points after racking up a formidable 624 in their only innings.
That represented an Otago record against allcomers, surpassing their previous best of 602 for eight declared in the summer of 1928-29.
They tried to ice that cake by running down the 166 needed in a minimum of 13 overs to attain outright points, an impossible ask once Central Districts ringed the boundary with fieldsmen.
Nevertheless, Neil Broom bludgeoned 63 not out off 36 balls, including four sixes, before the match ended with Otago on 100 for four.
Central Districts had earlier reached 395 in their second innings during which opener Geoff Barnett became the fourth century-maker of the match after the hosts resumed on 102 for one, requiring another 128 to make Otago bat again.
They did that and much more on a favourable surface as Barnett took the opportunity to register his maiden first-class century.
ND V Wellington
James Marshall at least had the satisfaction of making Wellington sweat, at times profusely, before they collected maximum points in Hamilton yesterday.
Wellington won the four-day match by 10 wickets despite being reluctant spectators to a gem of a century from Marshall, who exhibited the sort of stubborn streak which put his Northern Districts teammates to shame.
The home side arrived at Seddon Park with survival their only option, at 16 for one in their second innings and a distant 255 runs short of forcing Wellington to bat a second time.
Their already bleak situation deteriorated as they stumbled to 104 for seven as a thumping loomed.
Worse still, the combative Marshall had been forced from the field after sustaining a painful blow to his right shoulder by failing to evade a DeWayne Bowden delivery.
Northern Districts were 32 for two in the 10th over when the captain left the field to seek treatment. He returned with his side in tatters but in a determined frame of mind.
He went hard after the Wellington bowlers with startling results. The 27-year-old unveiled a full range of strokes as he took the attack to the bowlers en route to his sixth first-class century.
- additional reporting NZPA
