Cricket: Bracewell gets form sighter in North-South clash

New Zealand coach John Bracewell got better than he bargained for in the Island of Origin cricket trial match at Jade Stadium last night which turned into an unscheduled day-night affair.

Morning rain in Christchurch came close to preventing any play at all but Bracewell was determined to wait as long as possible and was rewarded with a day-nighter which five of the six upcoming one-day internationals against South Africa will be.

It also gave the likes of Daryl Tuffey and Daniel Vettori, who have had little bowling recently, a thorough workout and a final chance to assess the claims of several players vying for the Black Caps team to face South Africa.

North earned bragging rights through a six-wicket victory, the win being set up by pace bowlers Tuffey and Michael Mason when they knocked over the South top order cheaply. South battled to an inadequate 184 for nine.

North then withstood an inspired opening spell from Chris Martin, who captured three wickets, through accomplished innings from Mathew Sinclair and Chris Cairns to win in the 41st over.

Sinclair reminded the national selectors of his undoubted ability with an unbeaten 105 from 117 balls, including 12 fours and three sixes.

He brought up both his century and the winning runs with successive sixes and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 107 with Cairns who contributed 47.

The North opening bowlers soon proved their merits by lowering South to 19-4 after 11 overs. Tuffey and Mason tied down the South batsmen to such an extent they forced several of them into cheap shots.

Stephen Fleming miscued a pull and Michael Papps and Shanan Stewart were frustrated into playing loose shots.

- NZPA