Cricket: Late start first hiccup as Wellington falter in friendly

By TERRY MADDAFORD

It was not a great day for the Wellington at the Devonport Domain yesterday.

A delayed arrival for their friendly three-day match against Auckland reduced the number of overs from 100 to 82.

Then, from the first ball of the match after Auckland captain Brooke Walker had won the toss and sent them in, opener Phil Chandler was trapped leg-before by Chris Drum.

Captain Richard Jones, in a return to his old home ground, attempted to turn things around. Jones (44) and Rhys Morgan (19) added a circumspect 48 for the second wicket before Morgan was taken at the wicket by Reece Young off Tama Canning.

Kyle Mills ripped the middle order apart with the best bowling of the day - three for 17 from two spells - and only an unbeaten half-century from Chris Nevin saved the visitors from total collapse.

Nevin (61) and Mark Jefferson (14) added 47 in 66 minutes for the eighth wicket before Drum returned to finish it off with the last ball of the 77th over.

Auckland openers Tim McIntosh and Matt Horne survived five overs from internationals James Franklin and Andrew Penn to reach five without loss at stumps.

The teams will follow the three-day game with a one-day friendly on Thursday as they prepare for this weekend's State Max League competition to be held at North Harbour Stadium.

The Auckland Max team is expected to be named today.