Cricket: ND champ at the bit for Shell Cup action

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Northern Districts will be glad to just get back into on-field action today against Wellington in the Shell Cup, after being forced to watch the rain wash out their playing hopes on Wednesday.

The Northern side picked up one point from the abandoned match against Central Districts in New Plymouth, but it was enough to move them into second behind Otago on the points table.

The Robbie Hart-led squad yesterday drove from New Plymouth to Tauranga and later practised at Brendon Bracewell's cricket academy in preparation for the fifth-round match at Mt Maunganui's Blake Park.

They take the same 12 players into today's clash, with Joseph Yovich likely to be 12th man.

Disappointed at missing on-field action against Central, Northern coach Chris Kuggeleijn described the point they took as a "bit like kissing your sister," but added: "One point is better than none."

For the Matthew Bell-captained Wellington side, it is a chance to continue the momentum of their late but fully deserved first win of the season over Auckland at Eden Park.

Wellington beat Northern twice in cup play last season, but failed to make the semifinals.

While former international allrounder Richard Petrie is out with injury, Wellington have had James Franklin released from his 12th man duties at the Basin Reserve test in what will almost certainly be a straight swap for Petrie.

But any decision on their playing XI will have to wait until after fitness tests on Carl Bulfin and Andrew Penn this morning, with the possibility of another player being flown north in time for the game.

Bulfin has a bruised hand and Penn a foot problem.

While Blake Park has rarely produced big scores - Kuggeleijn reckons a total of 240 will always be competitive - the matches are usually close.

For Auckland, their match at Molyneux Park in Alexandra is the chance to get their campaign back on track.

The early pacesetters have slumped in their latest outings, losing to Otago and Wellington.

In the only change from the team who lost at Eden Park, Llorne Howell, who was stood down after missing the Boxing Day practice, has left the second XI to join the Aces.

He replaces left-handed opening batsman Tim McIntosh, who flew to Wellington to take Howell's place in the second XI match.

Central, who have had two washouts this season, will be hoping for better weather in New Plymouth today for their match with Canterbury.

Today's draw: Northern v Wellington, Blake Park, Mt Maunganui, 11.30 am; Otago v Auckland, Molyneux Park, Alexandra, noon; Central Districts v Canterbury, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, noon.

Points: Otago 7, Northern 5, Auckland and Central 4, Canterbury and Wellington 2.