Cricket: ND mark Vettori return with win

Northern Districts extended their lead at the top of the Shell Cup cricket table after beating Otago by eight runs in Oamaru yesterday.

But most interest centred on the return to action of international spinner Daniel Vettori.

The left-armer, sidelined by a bad back injury for the last three months, bowled eight accurate overs and gave every sign he will be ready for international cricket by the end of the month, when the Sri Lankans arrive for a five-game one-day series.

He had earlier opened the batting with Simon Doull after Northern captain Robbie Hart won the toss. Doull and Vettori both have talents with the bat, but not on this occasion as both departed without scoring.

Mark Bailey and James Marshall steadied the Northern ship with a partnership of 118 for the third wicket.

Bailey scored a classy and quick 67 off 70 balls and Marshall was just looking dangerous when he was trapped leg before wicket by Craig Cumming for 40.

Grant Bradburn smashed an unbeaten 60 and Northern's 242 for six looked a handy total when Otago opener Andrew Hore was bowled by Doull for one and test batsman Mark Richardson went for 11.

Matt Horne (36) and Cumming (30) made useful starts, but superb bowling by Grant Bradburn and Alex Tait saw Otago slump to 178 for nine with virtually all hope of winning the game gone.

But, showing more skills than some of their top-order team-mates, No 10 Warren McSkimming and No 11 David Sewell set about restoring some sort of dignity.

McSkimming struck six boundaries to reach his first Shell Cup 50 and finished unbeaten on 59 from 31 balls as Otago batted out their overs and finished on 234 for nine.

- NZPA