Cricket: Fighting qualities show up on home ground

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY and NZPA

It did not cross the mind of Auckland allrounder Paul Hitchcock before the game at Eden Park that he had a chance to show Wellington what they missed when he returned home at the start of the season.

Hitchcock hardly set the game on fire when he went south several seasons ago to try to make it in the first-class arena. Apart from 40 one-dayers, he played only one first-class match - and that was three years ago.

Sir Richard Hadlee thought enough of him to give him a chance at the international one-day level, and he was part of the New Zealand side who were given a drubbing in Pakistan last month.

Yesterday, Hitchcock gave a superb display of fighting qualities when he and skipper Brooke Walker took Auckland from 139 for eight to 202 for nine to gain the two first-innings points available.

Replying to Wellington's 201, Auckland reached 226 and had the visitors 85 for three in their second innings at stumps.

Hitchcock, described by coach Mark O'Donnell as a thoughtful, intelligent cricketer, went for 51, caught behind off Matthew Walker, but the damage had already been done on the scoreboard.

Brooke Walker, in an innings that might have been his best in the context of the game, carried on to 46 before the last wicket, Kerry Walmsley's, fell for 10, at 226.

The fightback had started with Llorne Howell making 28. He was the sixth wicket to fall, and then Craig Pryor chimed in with 29. Reece Young scored just six but stayed just over an hour while Hitchcock attacked.

The best of the Wellington attack were their fast-medium pair - Mark Gillespie, with three for 45, and Matthew Walker, two for 51.

But it was hard work on a pitch that offered nothing.

With a deficit of 25, Wellington blazed from the first ball of the second innings and Matthew Bell took 14 from Walmsley's first over. Grant Donaldson joined in and by the third over the gap was closed, but soon after Bell drove at Walmsley and was caught at mid-off.

Almost immediately, Michael Parlane did not offer a shot at a Hitchcock off-cutter and went leg before wicket.

Donaldson made 15 before he also went to Hitchcock.

Wellington have a lead of 60 with seven wickets in hand, and with two days to go a result seems certain.

* Mohammad Wasim and Craig Cumming assured Otago of first-innings points with a century opening stand against Northern Districts at Carisbrook yesterday.

The pair added 107 for the first wicket in 147 minutes during Otago's first substantial opening-wicket partnership of the season.

Otago ended the second day 137 for three, a lead of 16, after dismissing Northern Districts for 121.

Cumming scored 46 before he was needlessly run out. Wasim batted 175 minutes, faced 141 balls, hit six fours and was at his best when driving through the covers off the back foot.

Left-armer Gareth West was the most accurate of the Northern Districts bowlers, but the pitch seemed to flatten out during the day.

* Central Districts fought back gallantly to take the honours on the second day of their match against Canterbury at Palmerston North.

The home team had looked shaky after being dismissed for just 196 on a turning pitch and with Canterbury starting the day on 104 for three.

But Canterbury did not capitalise on that advantage, adding only 96 runs to be dismissed for 190 in 70.4 overs, allowing Central to take the important first-innings points.

At stumps, Central's top order had consolidated at 182 for three to give them a lead of 188 with two days' play remaining.

Glen Sulzberger took a career-best six for 54 off his 16.4 overs, polishing off the Canterbury tail with successive balls, one either side of lunch.