Cricket: Northern foiled yet grab spot in finals

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

A fierce mid-afternoon electrical storm washed out what had shaped as a decent battle between Northern Districts and Otago yesterday.

Ironically, when the State Shield game was abandoned at 5.30 pm, WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton was bathed in brilliant sunshine.

There had been some hope that Otago would get to chase the 130 for four scored by Northern even if it would have been an adjusted target.

But with water still in patches on the outfield, there was, in the end, no chance of that.

The washout was a blow for both sides, although the two points Northern picked up for the no result assured them of no worse than third place, and with it a playoff spot.

Otago, with their two points, went to 14 but would need results in the remaining two rounds to go their way to have any hope.

The southerners began strongly after Northern captain Robbie Hart had elected to bat first.

Simon Doull, Grant Robinson and Matthew Hart had all been and gone inside four and a half overs with the total a meagre 13.

But the Marshall brothers were in no hurry to follow.

They added 112 for the fourth wicket to break the record (111 runs) set by Barry Cooper and Grant Bradburn against Otago at Mt Maunganui eight seasons ago.

With his bowlers bowling so well, Otago captain Lee Germon - forced to take the wicketkeeping gloves in place of the injured Martyn Croy - was able to maintain the pressure long after the 15-over restriction had ended.

Kerry Walmsley in particular bowled a tight line and was rewarded with the early wickets of Doull and Hart.

Both batsmen, two days earlier, had been the topscorers in Northern's victory over Central Districts in New Plymouth.

James Marshall equalled his season-high Shield score of 49 before falling to a good Germon catch off Nathan McCullum.

Brother Hamish was left 45 not out when the thunder and lightning put on a spectacular display before a hailstorm sent the players scurrying for shelter.

Given the amount of rain which the ground has had to absorb this summer, it was little surprise that, despite the feverish work by the eight-strong ground staff, it was all in vain.

Northern are back at the ground tomorrow afternoon for their day-night clash with Auckland.

In Christchurch, Canterbury beat Auckland by seven wickets.

Auckland were dismissed for 161 in 45.1 overs and Canterbury replied with 165 for three.