Cricket: Donaldson resolve pays off for Wellington

Grant Donaldson's decision to make a fresh start and the faith shown in him by Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson paid dividends when he guided his team to a 66-run win over Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Donaldson hit 75 from 86 balls to see Wellington post a competitive 211 for seven.

The 26-year-old hit the ball with great certainty and power, particularly through the off side.

It was his fourth one-day 50 in 25 appearances and was only five runs short of his highest score.

There had been some thought that despite being on contract the middle-order batsman was lucky to be in the State Shield side after repeated failures in the four-day championship.

After the first three games Donaldson was bottom of the Wellington batting averages with 34 runs at 6.80 an innings, and he looked under pressure to retain his place.

But a few words of encouragement from Johnson raised Donaldson's spirits and he decided to put the championship nightmare behind him, and take a new approach to the one-dayers.

He started with 15 against Otago and a valuable 22 in difficult circumstances on Monday against Central Districts.

It gave him a sufficient boost to take advantage of good batting conditions yesterday as he and Matthew Walker produced a match-winning fifth-wicket partnership of 125 from 148 balls.

From being 68 for four in the 22nd over, Wellington reached 193 in the 48th before Walker was caught on the charge for 62 from 79 balls, his highest one-day score for Wellington.

The pair provided the impetus for Wellington's total, and in dismissing Northern Districts for 145 in 45 overs, the home side also secured a bonus point.

Northern were 34 for two after 15 overs, and 72 for six in the 28th and, despite a partnership of 42 from 51 balls by Matthew Hart and Joseph Yovich, they never threatened to pass Wellington's total.

Hart was last out for an aggressive 53, but he lacked support.

Mark Gillespie turned the game for Wellington when he had recalled international Scott Styris caught down the leg-side for 22, a decision that clearly displeased Styris.

- NZPA