Cricket: Aucklanders out to win title in style

Auckland do not intend to change their positive philosophy going into what is effectively a final for the domestic cricket title against Wellington at Colin Maiden Park tomorrow.

A draw would be sufficient for Auckland to clinch the State Championship, but coach Tony Sail eschewed the idea, suggesting that the champagne will be tastier if the title is won with a flourish.

He fancies beating the defending champions to round off the competition in style.

Auckland lead the table on 39 points; Wellington have 33; forget the rest.

Wellington can catch Auckland only with an outright win, but Auckland have a superior run rate.

"We'll play it as exactly as we would any other game: to try to win outright," Sail said. "If you go into it trying to draw over four days, that's fraught with danger.

"We don't want to win the championship on equal points."

Sail is impressed with the attitude of the senior players in his team and the spirit of the younger ones.

He cited captain Brooke Walker, who took the bold call of putting himself on to bowl at the serious end of a poor personal game against fourth-placed Canterbury in Christchurch on Thursday.

Canterbury needed 36 to win with two wickets standing and with the momentum shifting back their way. Six balls later it was all over.

"It was a gutsy call, and that's what leadership is all about," Sail said.

nte In the other two games tomorrow, Canterbury host Northern Districts and Central Districts play Otago in Napier.

Northern yesterday named Bay of Plenty left-arm medium pacer Leighton Hammond, Daryl Tuffey, who was released from the New Zealand squad, and Mark Orchard in their squad to replace the injured Matthew Hart, the unavailable Grant Bradburn and Simon Andrews.

Points: Auckland 39, Wellington 33, Central Districts 32, Canterbury 26, Northern Districts 22, Otago 6.