Cricket: Northern cruise home over Otago

By Terry Maddaford

TAUPO - Accepting the responsibility of an increased workload, Daryl Tuffey was justly rewarded with a match-winning effort as Northern Districts cruised to victory over Otago - and a clear Shell Trophy lead - at Owen Delany Park yesterday.

When new ball partner Graeme Aldridge limped out of the game after bowling just three overs on the first morning, Tuffey readily put his hand up.

He bowled 21 overs for four wickets in the first innings and, for the second time in the match, a career best of five from 25 overs in the second.

In just his 10th first class game - his ninth for ND - he had his first four and five wicket hauls but fell agonisingly short of a deserved 10-wicket bag for the match.

Using his height to good effect on a pitch which played truly throughout, Tuffey knocked the top off the Otago second innings and kept at the middle and lower order as they struggled for almost six hours for 179 runs from 97.3 overs.

Needing just 85 to win, Northern lost a couple of early wickets and eventually got home with seven wickets and a full day and an hour's play in hand.

"I feel I'm bowling as well as I ever have," said Tuffey, who played his early cricket in Manurewa as a batsman - he lives on the right side of Redoubt Rd to qualify for Counties and Northern.

He has become more serious about his bowling only in the last five years.

"With Graeme out so early I knew I would be expected to bowl a few more overs, which I was happy to do."

Owen Delany Park has been a happy hunting ground for the 20-year-old who remains one of the few Maori players to have made it to first class level.

"I made my Shell Cup debut here, had a good Cup game against CD earlier this season, and now have my career best figures.

"I love playing here. As [Otago fast bowler] Shayne O'Connor said, if you are prepared to bend your back and put it in, you will get wickets."

Tuffey, who is likely to opt for a Bachelor of Management course at Waikato University this winter, rather than another season of league cricket in England, finished with nine for 84 to take his career tally of wickets to 30.

While left-arm spinner Matt Hart could not celebrate his international recall with the second wicket he needed for his 200th first class wicket, he bowled 20 overs for just 31 runs in Otago's second innings.

Grant Bradburn finished with five for 53 for the match from (43.3 overs) to take his first class tally to 193.

Otago's only resistance came from opener and captain Robbie Lawson, who batted 291 minutes for 86 and shared in a 74-run fifth wicket partnership with Simon Forde, to give the visitors some hope of taking the game into the fourth day.
But once Forde was removed by Bradburn, and Lawson fell to Tuffey, the innings folded.

Northern lost openers James and Hamish Marshall and then Bradburn - giving Chris Gaffaney his first ever first class wicket - on their march to victory.

Northern now play South Africa in a three-day game starting Monday at WestpacTrust Park, while Otago have a week off before meeting Wellington in Oamaru.