Cricket: Chanceless 107 sends ND packing

By CHRIS RATTUE

The smile said it all. After 65 Shell Cup games, Auckland all-rounder Aaron Barnes cracked the ton in the eight-wicket win over Northern Districts in Hamilton.

Auckland notched their fourth win from five and look well on the way to making the top three playoffs.

The 28-year-old Barnes, a courier driver, has delivered the goods in a shaky top order batting lineup this season, averaging around 33.

His chanceless 107 from 136 deliveries yesterday, as Auckland reached the 193 target in the 46th over, took his season and career to new heights. His previous best one-day innings was an undefeated 89, although he does have a first-class century to his credit.

"I'm over the moon. Words can't describe how good it feels," said a beaming Barnes.

"Auckland has done a lot of work over the last two years and we've carried on what we started under [coach] David Trist last year.

"There are a lot of young guys starting to come through. All that work is paying off.

"For the last three years I've opened and really enjoyed it. I've got close to 100 before but this has been a long time coming.

"I'm lucky that we've got plenty of bowlers which means I get a bit of a rest from bowling when needed. This is the best innings I've ever played."

Apart from when new international Scott Styris and ND veteran Grant Bradburn put on 101 from 139 balls for the fifth wicket, Auckland always had the edge at WestpacTrust Park.

Chris Drum, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams and leg spinner Brooke Walker tied Northern down and took the wickets on a pitch that was not as "low and slow" as the Auckland camp had feared.

The home side won the toss but started poorly, with loose shots costing them as Michael Parlane and Mark Bailey fell to lobbed cuts.

Both Sytris and Bradburn were fortunate to have the chance to put on the century stand. Adams dropped an easy caught-and-bowled chance from Bradburn when he was on 14, and Northern were on 91. Mills put down another soft chance at mid on, from Tamahau Canning's bowling, when Styris was on 41 and Northern were 122.

It allowed an excellent partnership to develop and put Northern in a position where a 220 total was possible. But their good work went to waste. Robbie Hart hooked straight to Canning on the boundary, and Alex Tait played a half shot outside the off stump giving wicketkeeper Reece Young his second catch on his Shell Cup debut.

The innings ran out of puff. A 200 plus total was still on, going into the final five overs, but 182 for seven quickly became 192 all out.

Adams followed Llorne Howell, John Aiken and Blair Pocock as Barnes' opening partners this season, and played an important cameo of 30 from 25 balls to kick start the Auckland innings.

From there on, Barnes took over, with Lou Vincent and Aiken providing the necessary support to send ND to their third loss.