Cricket: Canning becomes Auckland's hat-trick hero

Tama Canning admits he was a bit of a lad in his early cricket career, but yesterday the 23-year-old Perth-born, part-Maori became a hero in the Shell Trophy match against Central Districts when he completed a hat-trick, a feat no other Auckland player has managed in 87 years.

The last time an Auckland bowler took three wickets in three balls was Caleb Oliff in 1913 against Canterbury.

After it had been firmly established on Friday that the Auckland Aces were through to the final against Northern Districts, the sides contrived a dramatic finish that ended with an Auckland win against the odds by eight runs.

On Saturday, Central dismissed Auckland in their second innings for 182, but had a shaky start to their chase for 280 when, with just 35 on the board, they had lost Joe Hill, David Kelly and Campbell Furlong.

Glen Sulzberger (42) and Mark Douglas (56) added 101 for the fourth wicket before Brooke Walker bowled Douglas shortly before the close of play.

Sulzberger lost his wicket from Kyle Mills' fifth ball yesterday and Auckland were back in the game.

Mark Greatbatch in his heyday was always able to exude confidence with his swaggering approach to the wicket. When he joined Jacob Oram the signs were there. Greatbatch's bat had the thud of a bludgeon from the first ball he hit to the boundary and, with Oram in silky touch, the pair added 50 in 34 minutes.

Oram should have been taken at backward point when he was 76 and the score 250, and there was a frustrated response from Auckland skipper Blair Pocock when Walker, usually a great fielder and catcher, grassed the awkward chance.

When Greatbatch eventually holed out to Canning for 30 the score had reached 246 for six, and all that Oram needed to give his side the win was a partner who stayed.

But Martin Sigley fell to Walker for a duck and four runs later Andrew Penn fell to Canning for two. It was the last ball of Canning's 19th over. Oram and Lance Hamilton took 11 from a Walker over and back came Canning. His first ball had Hamilton caught at square leg by John Aiken.

Tim Anderson was the last man in. He sparred outside the off stump and Auckland wicketkeeper Reece Young flung out his right hand to hold a sensational catch centimetres off the ground.

Northern Districts will host the five-day final at Taupo, starting on Sunday.