Cricket: McIntosh's second century demands higher honours

By BOB PEARCE


Opener Tim McIntosh gave a further nudge to the national selectors with his second hundred of the national domestic championship, but it was not enough for Auckland to beat Wellington at Eden Park yesterday.

The defending champions needed 317 runs on the final day with all their wickets intact, but at the close they were 268 for seven and had to settle for first innings points in the third round State Championship game.

McIntosh's 104 followed his 146 on the same ground against Otago early this month and must make the 24-year-old lefthander a prime candidate for higher honours.

He has a fine range of shots and is also blessed with an unflappable temperament and the concentration to build big scores.

Auckland's task was made harder by some spirited lower-order batting from the Wellington team on Saturday. Luke Woodcock led the way with 86 and there were invaluable contributions from James Franklin (61), Andrew Penn (47) and particularly Matthew Walker, who remained undefeated on 62.

McIntosh and rookie opener Shane Singe took Auckland safely through to 31 at stumps on Saturday, and on a pitch where many of the bowlers succeeded more with the bat than the ball the victory target looked reachable.

What's more Wellington were one bowler down after Penn completed only a couple of overs before limping off with a calf injury.

The openers were not parted until the score was 70 and, although Lorne Howell and Matt Horne did not prosper, McIntosh and Rob Nicol found gaps in the field and the run-rate of about five an over looked achievable.

But just before tea McIntosh, who had reached his century off 251 balls with 13 fours, got a faint edge to a ball from the indefatigable Walker and was caught behind.

Auckland required 145 off a minimum of 28 overs in the final session, and they were still in the hunt as Nicol and Aaron Barnes went on the attack.

But Nicol was caught in front by Walker for 45 and Barnes and Craig Pryor followed in quick succession.

Wellington, who had been guarding the boundaries, scented victory and for the final hour Reece Young and Paul Hitchcock held on grimly amid close-set fields.

Walker was the best of the Wellington bowlers, taking three wickets in 32 overs for 55 runs, and always looked the most likely to break through.

Jeetan Patel wheeled down 28 overs of offspin. He and left-arm spinner Woodcock had stumping chances missed.

* Hamish Marshall and Bruce Martin thwarted Otago's bid for victory with a match-saving partnership for Northern Districts at Carisbrook yesterday.

They added 97 runs in 131 minutes in an unbroken stand for the sixth wicket after Otago had scented their first outright win of the championship.

Marshall and Martin steered Northern Districts to safety and the match was drawn with play called off at 5.15pm with 13 overs remaining.

Northern Districts had a lead of 58 with five wickets intact although Matthew Hart, who had a painful back injury, would probably not have batted.

Northern Districts worked hard for survival yesterday, the Otago bowlers trying just as hard to prise the opposition batsmen out but, in the end, the loss of 104 overs' play - more than a day - because of rain proved decisive.

Left-hand opening batsman Nick Horsley was Otago's first major obstacle yesterday, and he batted 220 minutes and 182 balls for 69 before he holed out to off-spinner Nathan Morland at deep mid-off.

When Joey Yovich and Grant Robinson departed in successive Bradley Scott overs Northern Districts were 145 for five, still 39 runs behind and in desperate straits.

But Marshall, calm and composed, batted on and on and, in Martin, found an ideal ally as they frustrated the Otago bowlers.

Marshall cut Scott over gully to reach his seventh first-class half-century, and Martin reached the milestone for the second time soon afterwards.

At the end Marshall had batted 279 minutes and 257 balls for his 65. Martin's unbeaten 54 took 131 minutes and 112 balls.

* Central Districts had to settle for a draw against Canterbury when the weather intervened at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, yesterday.

Bad light stopped play with 25 overs left, Central Districts three wickets shy of getting an outright win and having to settle for first innings points.

On a pitch favouring both the seam and spin bowlers, Canterbury were in trouble at 194 for seven, still 131 runs short of the 325 needed.

Because of rain, play did not start until 2.40pm yesterday with Canterbury at 97 for three.

In fourth-round games which start on Saturday, Auckland play Central Districts at Eden Park, Otago host Wellington at Carisbrook and Canterbury play Northern Districts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

- NZPA