Cricket: Auckland on a high for Basin Reserve clash

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Taking all the confidence their win over Canterbury gave them, Auckland meet Wellington at the Basin Reserve today in a match which could well decide the national title.

The two sides have cleared out from the rest to set up an intriguing contest in the championship's penultimate round.

Going into the last day of their match at Hagley Oval last week, few would have given Auckland much hope of getting up to win and retain their one-point State Championship lead over Wellington.

Led by Matt Horne with an innings tagged "brilliant" by Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell, the defending champions scored an emphatic outright victory to frustrate Wellington who had already secured maximum points with their win over Northern Districts.

Auckland have taken the same 12 players to Wellington.

"We will have a look at what sort of pitch they come up with before making a decision on our 12th man," said O'Donnell as he and his team prepared to fly south yesterday. "I'm going down there to win.

"It was a pretty useful chase against Canterbury and again showed our strength is in our batting."

While most teams have retained the same squads as they had in last week's eighth round, Northern have made one change for their game against Central Districts at Hamilton's Westpac Park.

Michael Parlane has been dropped and Grant Robinson recalled after some good form for the Northern A side.

With Graeme Aldridge again unavailable, Gareth Irwin retains his place.

Otago top-order batsman Robbie Lawson is out with a knee injury which might well end his season.

His place has gone to pace bowler Kerry Walmsley, who is returning from an injury of his own.



Northern Districts v Central Districts, Westpac Park, Hamilton.

Northern: Robbie Hart (capt), Ian Butler, Matt Hart, Nick Horsley, Gareth Irwin, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Bruce Martin, Mark Orchard, Grant Robinson, Gareth West, Joseph Yovich.

Central: Craig Spearman (capt), Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Glen Sulzberger, Greg Todd, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford, Ewen Thompson.

Wellington v Auckland, Basin Reserve.

rgeWellington (from, following fitness tests this morning): Matthew Bell (capt), Richard Jones, Neal Parlane, Luke Woodcock, Grant Donaldson, Chris Nevin, James Franklin, Matthew Walker, Mark Gillespie, Ashley Turner, Jeetan Patel, Andrew Penn, Iain O'Brien, Mark Jefferson, Leighton Morgan.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Mark Richardson, Rob Nicol, Tama Canning, Brad Nielsen, Aaron Barnes, Reece Young, Heath Davis, Craig Pryor, Andrew McKay.

Canterbury v Otago, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Neil Broom, Brendon Donkers, Andrew Ellis, Robbie Frew, Peter Fulton, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski.

Otago: Mohammad Wasim, Craig Cumming (capt), Chris Gaffaney, Marcel McKenzie, Jordan Sheed, Peter McGlashan, Warren McSkimming, Jeff Wilson, Nathan Morland, Shayne O'Connor, James McMillan, Kerry Walmsley.

Points after eight rounds: Auckland 32, Wellington 31, Northern Districts, Otago, Central Districts 14, Canterbury 10.