Cricket: Howell keeps grip in rain

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland continued their resurgence in the one-day competition while Otago were left ruing their first decision of the day after a heavy defeat at Eden Park.

In a confusing finish entangled in the perplexing Duckworth-Lewis system for deciding rain-affected matches, Llorne Howell steered Auckland to a six-wicket win in the State Shield match.

Auckland also gained their first bonus point of the season, following their victory against Canterbury and what almost certainly would have been a win over Central Districts but for rain.

Otago chose to bat, a decision they quickly regretted as Heath Davis and Gareth Shaw pinned them down and wickets fell.

Otago coach Glenn Turner said: "There were some reckless shots, but not too many. There was some bounce and movement early on."

While Davis, a man whose bowling has unravelled in various ways during the past, decided to play the straight guy, Shaw was the funny man.

In the sixth over, he sent down seven wides and also managed to trap Mohammed Wasim leg-before. Umpire Doug Cowie even gave the rookie a consoling pat.

But Shaw was not to be denied.

His first ball of the next over would have been wide, but for an intervention by the edge of Otago captain Craig Cumming's flailing bat. Lou Vincent accepted the catch.

Davis got his rewards in the 15th over, taking Marcel McKenzie and Peter McGlashan with consecutive balls, and then Jeff Wilson.

Otago's 121 was unlikely to be enough. Auckland had 38 overs to gain a bonus point, and 48 overs in total to reach 119 under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

There had been plenty of magic wands waved around by both sides' batsmen, but only Howell's involved any productive sparkle.

Vincent, trying to find a run of form before the World Cup, was bowled playing forward in defence to Kerry Walmsley as Auckland - apart from Howell - did a decent impression of the Otago batting.

Howell reached 66 from 95 deliveries, hitting seven fours and two sixes. He is a hit-and-miss character, but on the good days, batting does not get much better in New Zealand cricket.

The official communication system went haywire at the end. Despite needing just 119, Auckland were left trying to pass 121, facing five extra balls that were subsequently erased from the scorebook.