Cricket: ND home in on record

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Northern Districts cricketers will cast a weather eye skywards this morning as they prepare to push on for outright points over Central Districts on the last day of their four-day match in Taupo.

The home team are aware that victory would bring them to within one win of equalling a 127-year-old record in New Zealand first-class cricket.

To achieve that they must hope the weather will allow them first to administer the last rites to Central's second innings, which had reached 180 for eight by stumps last night for an overall lead of 97.

If Northern can then hit off the required runs they would take their record of successive outright wins in the Shell Trophy competition to seven and equal the mark set by Canterbury from 1912-1914 and equalled by Wellington in the early 1960s.

That is one shy of Canterbury's record of eight wins over a seven-year period from the 1873-74 season to 1880-81.

But records will be the furthest thing from the minds of the Northern players, who have battled well in this match.

Resuming at 261 for five yesterday, they passed the 290 target for first-innings points, eventually reaching 372, with worthy lower-order contributions from Robbie Hart (27), Simon Doull (23), Graeme Aldridge (17) and Bruce Martin (26 not out).

Aldridge became the fourth batsman to fall leg-before to left-arm pace bowler Ewen Thompson who, even bowling over the wicket, did enough to win favour from both umpires.

Needing 83 to wipe out that deficit, Central Districts placed their hopes on first-innings heroes Mark Douglas and Ben Smith.

In reaching 100 after being 52 for two and with Smith again batting with all the class of an English professional, the foundation had been laid.

But without addition, the castle started crumbling.

Smith fell to a smart catch by Brett Hood for 48.

Without addition, Douglas (14) was taken at the wicket by Hart and Peter McGlashan fell to another great take by Hood close in.

From 100 for two to 100 for five, Central were in trouble, but captain Jacob Oram was having none of that, and with Greg Loveridge, added 51 before Grant Bradburn snared Loveridge for 28.

Oram continued to blaze away, but went for 34 with the total at 167 when Hood pulled off a remarkable diving catch at cover.

Despite taking some tap from Oram, who hit five fours and a six in his 34, the bowlers stuck at it.

Offspinner Bradburn returned the best figures, with three for 56 from 23 overs.