Cricket: CD batsmen revel in runfest

By CHRIS RATTUE

If Auckland had any faint hopes of winning this year's Shell Trophy, they appeared to be soundly crushed at Eden Park yesterday.

It would have taken a miracle for Auckland, who are 12 points behind leaders Wellington with this and two further rounds to go, to have been title contenders anyway.

But they will need a miracle of loaves and fishes proportions now after a brilliant Central Districts batting display against often awful bowling at the outer oval.

Opener Craig Spearman started the assault, then current test batsman Mathew Sinclair carried it on against a range of deliveries that seemed tailor-made for boundary hitting.

After the first day was rained out, Central piled on 397 for the loss of six wickets yesterday, averaging close to five runs an over.

Spearman started the rout with a brilliant 96 from 91 deliveries, with 80 of his runs coming in boundaries.

He and Sinclair scored the first 50 of their partnership in just 30 balls, and a 100 partnership in 71 balls.

It was brilliant stuff, not that there was anyone there to notice, as is par for the course at domestic cricket games these days.

After he put on an initial flurry, Sinclair took the back seat as Spearman destroyed the Auckland attack. In one period, Spearman scored 60 runs during which Sinclair added just three singles. Spearman struck 20 in one over, and took 15 from an over from new-ball bowler Chris Drum.

Spearman was certainly helped by a poor Auckland bowling effort after they had put Central Districts in to bat, after a rain delay and problems in removing the motorised covers.

The motor actually had to be removed and the ground staff produced a miracle of their own in finding 15 people to manually remove the covers.

Auckland probably wished they had stayed on.

Almost to a man their bowlers - and there were seven of them - dished up the sort of stuff that has someone like Sinclair thinking double century.

It did not eventuate, as leg spinner Walker had him stumped by wicketkeeper Reece Young for 145 from 195 balls. It was Sinclair's ninth first-class century, and one of the lower ones from a man who loves to go on with the job.

His wicket was part of a rearguard action from Auckland last night but they are still facing a substantial first-innings score from Central.

Central, the Shell Cup champions, are only two points better placed than Auckland on the trophy table - but they would have finished yesterday in far better spirits than the home side and with healthier title prospects.