Cricket: Fulton in the big runs again at Christchurch

Peter Fulton's golden summer continued and Chris Cairns showed his bowling was far from a spent force as Canterbury hammered Otago by 118 runs in the State Shield in Christchurch yesterday.

Fulton, a week after scoring his maiden one-day international century against Sri Lanka, cracked 85 off 70 balls as Canterbury scored a handy 267-6 off their 50 overs. Then Cairns, who bowled well below his best for New Zealand against Australia and Sri Lanka, ripped through the Otago top order as the competition leaders folded for 149 in just 38.4 overs.

Cairns took 4-26 in a seven-over spell, shattering the stumps of former internationals Craig Cumming and Gareth Hopkins, nicking out Aaron Redmond and having Greg Todd caught by Craig McMillan.

New-ball partner Steve Cunis took 2-26, trapping opener Chris Gaffaney and Neil Broom both leg before wicket as Otago slumped to a disastrous 39-6.

English import Jonathan Trott prolonged the agony with an unbeaten 83 to continue his prolific State Shield season, before spinner Paul Wiseman took three late wickets to finish the job. Wiseman ended with 3-32 off 9.4 overs.

Fulton, batting at No 4, anchored the Canterbury innings with a sparkling knock, including seven fours and two sixes. Opener Michael Papps was the other key contributor with the bat with 73 to give the innings a rollicking start with opening partner Brendon McCullum who hit 33 off 28 balls.

Redmond showed the Hagley Park pitch was spin-friendly, taking three for 40 off 10 overs with the wickets of internationals Nathan Astle, McMillan and Cairns.

The bonus-point victory vaulted Canterbury temporarily into second place on the points table behind Otago, who suffered their first loss of the season. Wellington can overtake Otago in the lead today if they beat Northern Districts in the final match of round five, the halfway point of the competition.

- NZPA