Cricket: Mission impossible facing Auckland

By TERRY MADDAFORD

TAUPO - When, some time today, they finally snuff any remaining fight from Auckland's Shell Trophy bid, Northern Districts will justify their claim as the best team in domestic cricket this summer.

This will be a trophy won by a gutsy, season-long effort by 13 players committed to returning the coveted prize to their trophy cabinet for the first time in seven years.

Auckland go into the last day needing 452 runs for victory after Northern, led by Joseph Yovich's inspired but heart-breaking 99, scored 367 in a second innings which started on Monday, stuttered through a weather-interrupted Tuesday and was finally ended - after 593 minutes - under lights in the post-tea session yesterday.

Despite such a taxing day in the field, Auckland stuck bravely to what, a long way out, appeared a lost cause.

Northern's team-work was again the key. While other associations (Central Districts, Canterbury and Otago) have used 17 players and Wellington and Auckland 16, ND have kept their tight-knit group together.

In the past two seasons, only 15 players have seen trophy action - all from within the association's boundaries and all products of Northern's long-time coaching development programme.

This season they can point to no outstanding performer with the bat. Instead, it's been a solid all-round effort.

Mark Bailey, with 433 runs from 10 completed innings, heads the list. He finished the trophy season 99 ahead of Neal Parlane.

But the back-up has been superb, with all but Robbie Hart and Bruce Martin of the Northern players in the final having scored at least one half-century.

While other teams can point to bigger individual contributions - Wellington's Jason Wells' 473 in six innings at an average of 94.60 and Otago's four centuries - none matched Northern's consistency in averaging 300 for their completed innings.

With the ball, Northern have been just as relentless.

Martin, the only newcomer, has led the wicket-taking charge with 31. He has been well supported by Yovich (18), Daryl Tuffey and Grant Bradburn (17) and Scott Styris (13).

The penultimate day's play on a pitch which has ensured a fair contest throughout was dominated by Yovich, who began the day on three and shared in worthwhile partnerships with Styris, Bradburn and, in particular, Hart.

Even though victory looked remote, the Auckland attack refused to toss it in.

Brooke Walker and Tama Canning sent down 90 overs between them in the warmest conditions of the match so far, with Walker finishing with eight wickets for the match.