Cricket: High hopes for shield play at Oamaru

Otago Cricket Association chief executive Graeme Elliott is optimistic that the limited-overs match against Canterbury tomorrow will go ahead.

North Otago has been deluged by rain in the past week, bringing fears that the State Shield clash may have to be abandoned.

That remains an option, but Elliott was looking on the bright side yesterday.

"At this stage it doesn't look great, but I think back to Queenstown less than two weeks ago where there seemed no likelihood of play the day before, and yet we got a completed match," he said.

"The pitch in Oamaru is fine and, if the rain stays away, we'll be all right.

"We could, if need be, play a shortened game. Play can start as late as 3.30 pm and go as late as 8 pm."

Elliott said there was no alternative to playing the game in Oamaru.

Carisbrook is being prepared for six consecutive World Youth Cup matches from next Sunday, which has the ground staff at full stretch.

North Otago Cricket Association chairman Mark Julius said the state of the ground at Centennial Park would be assessed today.

He described the "saturated" outfield as the main problem.

There had been about 75mm of rain since last Thursday and little wind to dry the sodden surface.

"If the weather gods smile, the ground would be playable by Wednesday," he said.

"The worst scenario, if it started raining heavily again, would be to abandon the match. That would be the last resort."

State Shield games in Nelson and Christchurch have had to be abandoned without a ball bowled during the past week, but Oamaru has a reputation to uphold. All nine one-day games played at Centennial Park since 1983 have been completed.

The other matches tomorrow are between Central Districts and Auckland in New Plymouth and Northern Districts-Wellington in Rotorua.

Points after five rounds: Wellington 20, Northern 18, Canterbury 11, Otago, Central 6, Auckland 4.

- NZPA