Cricket: Horne's ton brings win

Matthew Horne crashed a brilliant 187 in 182 balls, leading Auckland to a stunning four-wicket win in their match against Canterbury in Christchurch yesterday.

Horne flayed the bowlers all around Hagley Oval in a marvellous display of stroke-making as Auckland made a mockery of Canterbury's supposedly testing target of 360 to win in 97 overs.

Auckland achieved the victory with a remarkable 12.3 overs remaining largely thanks to Horne's memorable display. It was the 21st century of his career - the most by any New Zealand batsman playing this season.

Auckland's successful chase was the eighth-largest tally to win in New Zealand first-class history.

Horne's innings, in his 99th first-class match, was not only timely for Auckland but also for him, with the selectors starting to consider the New Zealand team to tour Sri Lanka next month.

Both selectors still in New Zealand, Brian McKechnie and Ross Dykes, watched the eye-catching display.

Auckland's win enabled them to retain their lead atop the State Championship ladder holding a one-point margin on fellow-title contenders Wellington who they meet in the next round starting in Wellington on Tuesday.

For Canterbury it was a disappointing end to a match which, with Peter Fulton's triple century, they dominated for three days and leaves them still at the bottom of the table with just two matches remaining.

Horne, 32, said he felt a little guilty of searching for "four balls" but should feel no remorse with 132 of his runs coming in boundaries.

He was especially severe on spin bowlers Paul Wiseman and Aaron Redmond, negating any effect they might have had on a wicket providing slow turn.

He shared several prosperous partnerships but the match-winner was worth 131 in just 106 minutes with Tama Canning.

Canning shed his first innings defensive shackles to strike 49 from 76 balls, with six fours and a six, and the duo carried Auckland to the brink of victory before their dismissals.

Horne praised Canterbury captain Gary Stead for a decent declaration after Stead declined to enforce the follow-on when Auckland pulled out behind.

"We were both trying for six points and that's the way Gary likes to play."

* Wellington dispatched Northern Districts by 10 wickets at the Basin Reserve yesterday in one of their more clinical displays in recent times.

With two rounds remaining Auckland have 32 points, Wellington 31 and there is daylight to third where Central Districts, Northern Districts and Otago are tied on 14.

Wellington have reason to be frustrated, having ground out two victories in recent weeks while Auckland have profited from declarations.

Northern's chances of saving the game yesterday evaporated on the second ball of the morning when Matthew Hart on 40 edged a simple catch behind the wicket.

Robbie Hart and Bruce Martin delayed the inevitable for 53 minutes before the tireless Matthew Walker finished the job with three wickets in two overs.

Walker cleaned out Martin and trapped Ian Butler and Robbie Hart leg before wicket to give him the highly impressive figures of four for 60 from 40 overs.

It gave him a match analysis of eight for 99 and 34 wickets for the season.

Wellington reached the winning target of 87 at 2.12pm, with Matthew Bell making 51, his second half-century of the match.

* Otago's game against Central Districts at a sodden Queen's Park in Invercargill was ruined by the weather.

Otago were dismissed for 184 in their first innings yesterday, 24 short of CD, who batted out the day, reaching 127 for one.

Jamie How made 55 and Peter Ingram was unbeaten on 54

- NZPA