Cricket: Captain's innings key to win

By CHRIS RATTUE

From an act of cricketing magic produced by Andre Adams, to the match-winning innings of Canterbury captain Gary Stead - this was what one-day cricket is all about.

For the second day in a row, Auckland were part of a magnificent contest in the State Shield competition, but once again they were pipped at the post.

Another bumper crowd at Eden Park's outer oval saw Stead crack a four from the last ball of the match, delivered by Adams, to score a one-wicket win.

Needing two from the final delivery, Stead punched the ball through the covers, also bringing up his century, the final act in a superbly timed and crafted innings.

Auckland, who had lost in the last over to Northern Districts on Wednesday, had totalled 251, but once again they should have had more.

"We had some brilliance from Adam Parore and Lou Vincent with the bat, but in the end it was a tradesmanlike innings from Stead which won the day," Auckland coach Tony Sail said.

"We need someone to bat through an innings and to put together partnerships ... we need some more nous out there.

"It is great to be part of two fantastic games and occasions, but disappointing not to get the results."

Vincent hit 47 from 54 balls while Parore started sedately before firing on all cylinders at the end, hitting six fours and two sixes as he reached 56 from 84 deliveries.

His tail-end partners played cameo support innings.

Stead came in at 35 for two, after Craig McMillan fell to a skidder from Kyle Mills after having hit three consecutive fours.

By the 40th over, Canterbury were 52 short of victory with three wickets remaining.

A quickfire partnership between Stead and Paul Wiseman then had Canterbury looking in good shape to forge on, but it was an extraordinary piece of fielding from Adams which ended Wiseman's innings.

Wiseman, who was backing up at the bowler's end, was defeated by a backhand flick of about 20m from Adams in the 45th over, and Canterbury were then more precariously placed at 229 for eight.

Adams followed that up by conceding just one from his next over.

Nevertheless, going into the last over, Canterbury needed three runs to win.

But Auckland captain Brooke Walker took quick but careful aim as he ran out Carl Anderson, with three balls remaining and two needed for the win.

Adams kept Stead scoreless for the first two, but the Canterbury captain punched his bat into the air as he hit the final, full-pitched delivery through the covers.

* Northern made it two out of two when they downed Central by three wickets at Mt Maunganui.

Northern were set a target of 245, which they reached with 17 balls to spare.

Ben Smith top-scored for Central with 66 and Hamish Marshall (61 not out) and Matthew Hart (56) led the way for Northern.