Cricket: Chance for trophy leaders to push finals claim

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Auckland and Central Districts have the opportunity to ram home their early advantage in third-round Shell Trophy cricket action today.

In a replay of last year's final, Central meet struggling Otago in Palmerston North while Auckland play Northern Districts in the game of the round in Taupo. Last season - admittedly interrupted by the weather - two outright wins were enough to book a place in the final. Not this time.

CD and Auckland have already pocketed outright points in their first two games but are by no means assured of making it through. On paper, though, only Northern stand in their way, such has been the form of the other three teams.

Wellington and Canterbury - no points from two outings - meet at the Basin Reserve with the loser out of contention.

Teams: Auckland: John Aiken, Blair Pocock (capt), Llorne Howell, Lou Vincent, Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, Richard King, Reece Young, Brooke Walker, Kyle Mills, Kerry Walmsley, Chris Drum.

Northern Districts (from): Michael Parlane, James Marshall, Mark Bailey, Neal Parlane, Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn, Joseph Yovich, Robbie Hart (capt), Alex Tait, Daryl Tuffey, Simon Doull, Bruce Martin, Graeme Aldridge.

Wellington (from): Chris Nevin (capt), Matthew Bell, Grant Donaldson, Jason Wells, Selwyn Blackmore, Tim Boyer, James Franklin, Richard Petrie, Paul Hitchcock, Mark Jefferson, Stephen Hotter, Robert Kennedy, Jeetan Patel.

Canterbury (from): Gary Stead (capt), Brad Doody, Craig Cumming, Jarrod Englefield, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Gareth Hopkins, Stephen Cunis, Carl Anderson, Ryan Burson, Hayden Shaw, Chris Martin.

Central Districts (from): Jacob Oram (capt), David Kelly, Joseph Hill, Matthew Sinclair, Glen Sulzberger, Mark Douglas, Campbell Furlong, Martyn Sigley, Brent Hefford, Andrew Penn, Lance Hamilton, Tim Anderson, Kervin Marc.

Otago: Robbie Lawson (capt), Matt Horne, Andrew Hore, Mark Richardson, Stephen Mather, Chris Gaffaney, Brendon McCullum, Paul Wiseman, Nathan Morland, Shayne O'Connor, David Sewell, Glenn Jonas