Cricket: Northern in control despite lbws and rain

By TERRY MADDAFORD

TAUPO - Plans to bring next season's Shell Trophy closer to summer will be welcomed by the Auckland and Northern Districts cricketers who spent another frustrating rain-shortened day yesterday trying to work themselves closer to a result.

When the umpires finally ordered the floodlights turned off and pulled the stumps, only 178 minutes of a scheduled 390 minutes on the third day had been played.

Already, 325 minutes of play at Owen Delany Park in Taupo have been surrendered to the gathering gloom and in temperatures more akin to winter rugby than the summer sporting code.

In the time play was possible yesterday - after the start had been delayed for 31/2 hours and with the lights on from 3.10 pm - Northern Districts worked through to 170 for five and an overall lead of 254.

With no need to press for an outright decision, the Northern batsmen will be content to bat for as long as they can. As second qualifiers for the final, Auckland must win outright to lift the trophy.

Resuming at 40 without loss, Northern were soon in trouble, with Michael Parlane failing to add to his overnight score of 18 when he was well caught by Lou Vincent at second slip off Kyle Mills.

Andre Adams, who did not have a great time with the ball in Northern's first innings, replaced Tama Canning immediately, making the most of his opportunity. During five successive maidens, he trapped James Marshall in front to have, at that stage, one for none.

Marshall had been in ominous touch, scoring 42 after a first-innings 81. When Neal Parlane fell 13 runs later to Brooke Walker, the home side were starting to stagger.

Mark Bailey took his score to 41 before he, too, fell leg-before to Walker, who had switched ends. Bailey's departure left him on 2999 first-class runs and a winter to wait for his 3000th. Hamish Marshall joined the leg-before club, again to Walker, after scoring 24 as Northern reached 155 for five.

Scott Styris, who brought up his 1000th first-class run with his first scoring shot, saw it through on 26 as Northern awaited the inevitable early close, more than 90 minutes before the planned 6.30 pm stumps.

Ten batsmen have so far fallen to leg-before decisions, with Walker, extracting only minimal turn, frustrating the batsmen with good length and well-directed legspin.

Given favourable conditions, and at least one full day's play, there can still be a result but as the runs mount and the rain and cloud continue to gather, Auckland's chances are slipping frustratingly away.