Cricket: Costly Auckland bowlers test Sail's patience

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY and NZPA

Frustrated Auckland coach Tony Sail is losing patience with bowlers who are not delivering the goods.

Auckland conceded 275 runs to Otago in the 50 overs of their seventh-round State Shield match at Eden Park yesterday - in Sail's book 35 to 40 too many.

When the rain came, Auckland were 67 for three in reply.

Sail said the bowlers at the top were doing their bit, but the first and second changes needed to step up.

"We are just giving away far too many easy runs," Sail said. "We have conceded 250 runs and more in the last few innings and that makes it difficult for any team to win."

The loss of top players to the national side had not helped, but he did not want to make an issue of it.

The number of extras also worried Sail. Auckland bowled 14 wides and a no ball, but Otago gave up 15 wides in the 13.5 overs they bowled.

Otago were dismissed from the last ball of the 50th over. Former Aucklander Craig Pryor provided the highlight, hitting 91 off 83 balls, including five fours and four sixes. Pryor and his skipper, Lee Germon, created a 104-run partnership from 90 balls for the fifth wicket in a tick over an hour. He was caught low on the square-leg fence by Llorne Howell.

Rob Lawson anchored the innings with 49 from 88 balls.

Chris Drum led the Auckland attack with three for 36 from 10 overs, and while Tama Canning was a shade expensive in his opening spell of seven overs with one for 33, he came back at the death to claim two for 17 from his last three overs.

Brooke Walker took two wickets, one with his first ball, and left-arm spinner, Mark Haslam, who bowled too short and flat at times, also captured two.

Auckland lost the normally reliable Matt Horne for nought, a far cry from his recent strong form.

Otago coach Glenn Turner was pleased with his side's score.

"We have batted well in our last couple of games and we have been trying to be more urgent, which I believe we have achieved," he said.

* Wellington crashed to their first loss of the season when they went down to Canterbury by 36 runs at the Basin Reserve.

Canterbury set the hosts a target of 237, but they were never in the hunt, only Matthew Bell topping 40.

They lost their last eight wickets for 80.

For Canterbury, Warren Wisneski, with a neatly compiled 44, and Aaron Redmond, with an unbeaten 43, held the innings together.

Wellington have 25 points, followed by Northern 23, Canterbury 15, Otago 12, Auckland 10 and Central 6.