Cricket: Central gains control over Aucklanders

By Chris Rattue

MASTERTON - Lack of time is the only thing standing between Central Districts and outright victory over Auckland as the home side twisted the knife on the third day of their Shell Trophy match.

After entering the third day with a glimmer of hope of winning the first innings points, Auckland fell 77 runs short of Central's score of 414 for seven declared.

Going into the final day, Central will have a lead of 138, with nine second innings wickets left, after former international opener Craig Spearman rocketed them to 61 for one in their second innings.

Only Spearman, in his unbeaten second innings, and Auckland opener Bryan Young have mastered the dusty Queen Elizabeth park wicket, and the loss of Young for 111, his 10th first class century, was the crucial blow for Auckland hopes yesterday.

He had been in superb touch but then lobbed a short delivery from leg spinner Tim Anderson to mid on, leaving Auckland at 182 for four.

Richard King followed up his good match against Otago with 78 to keep the faint hopes alive, but the tail folded quickly, with Anderson finishing the innings with the wickets in consecutive balls of Kerry Walmsley and Mark Haslam as Auckland finished on 337.

It has been a match of endurance, watched by about 20 spectators, where Central's slow first innings set the tone of the game. Auckland were looking ragged late yesterday, and Central certainly deserved their commanding position, although as Auckland coach David Trist lamented, the toss has probably played a big part in the teams' respective positions.

While Auckland threatened to get in the region of gaining first innings points, Central - with opening bowler Michael Mason particularly unlucky not to get more reward than the wicket of Ian Billcliff - always seemed to have the situation under control.

While Auckland look sure to come away from this match empty-handed, it has also been a bad week for the local cricket association.

The pitch is not of first class standard. The local council has contracted out its park maintenance to a private firm who apparently do not include cricket wickets as a specialty.

Whereas Doug Bracewell, from the renowned Masterton cricketing family, had helped with the pitch preparation until two years ago, the contractors are now on their own. The results are not pretty.

And the local scorers have had what might be termed a series of technical difficulties during this match.

Their problems would have been highlighted more had Auckland been struggling to get near the follow on mark of 264.

There has been continual doubt over the true totals throughout the match, and as of last night they were working their way back through the book to come up with the correct figures going into the final day.

It means there is still doubt over, among other things, Auckland and Young's totals.