Cricket: Northern let off $1000 fine for tardy over-rate

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Northern Districts are winners even before a ball is bowled in the last round of Shell Trophy cricket today.

Following their resounding win over Otago in Gisborne last week, Northern faced a $1000 fine for failing to reach the required 15 overs an hour minimum.

But in a commonsense decision, New Zealand Cricket stepped in and waived the fine, acknowledging that such a penalty would be unfair.

"Too many wickets fell in too short a time," said NZC general manager Tim Murdoch. "ND approached us and we could understand what they were saying. We made a similar call last year."

Northern bundled Otago out for 77 and 112 in a total of just 67.4 overs at only 14.18 overs an hour. In all other games this season, ND have been well above the minimum.

Northern meet Canterbury at Christchurch's QEll Village Green today with the same team who rolled Otago.

In other matches in the last round-robin, Auckland play Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park in Glen Innes, starting at the earlier time of 10am, and Otago meet Wellington in Alexandra.

ND, on 20 points, have a two-point lead over Auckland, with Central Districts four points back. Northern have a far superior net average per wicket and are assured of a place in the final.

Auckland need only to take two points for a first-innings lead to book their place against ND in the final. Central's only hope is to beat Auckland outright after first securing first-innings points.

If Northern are to host the final - and they will lose that opportunity only if they are beaten by Canterbury and Auckland beat CD outright - it will be played at Taupo's Owen Delany Park from April 2 to 6.

If Auckland are hosts, the final will be played from April 1 to 5.

"We will not be taking any notice of what other teams are doing," said Auckland coach Tony Sail. "We plan to win every game we play. This will be no different.

"ND and Auckland have been the form teams throughout and we would love the chance to play Northern again in the final."

Auckland: Blair Pocock (captain), John Aiken, Llorne Howell, Stephen Lynch, Aaron Barnes, Richard King, Tama Canning, Reece Young, Brooke Walker, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Kerry Walmsley.

Central Districts: Jacob Oram (captain), David Kelly, Joseph Hill, Glen Sulzberger, Mark Douglas, Mark Greatbatch, Martyn Sigley, Campbell Furlong, Andrew Penn, Tim Anderson, Lance Hamilton, Taraia Robin.

Canterbury: Craig Cumming, Brad Doody, Jarrod Englefield, Marcel McKenzie, Carl Anderson, Chris Martin, Chris Harris, Gary Stead (captain), Aaron Redmond, Warren Wisneski, Gareth Hopkins, Michael Papps, Hayden Shaw.

Northern Districts: James Marshall, Michael Parlane, Mark Bailey, Neal Parlane, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Joseph Yovich, Grant Bradburn, Robbie Hart (captain), Alex Tait, Daryl Tuffey, Bruce Martin.

Otago: Robbie Lawson (captain), Hayden Anderson, Mark Richardson, Stephen Mather, Simon Forde, Chris Gaffaney, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Nathan Morland, Warren McSkimming, Glenn Jonas, David Sewell.

Wellington: Chris Nevin (captain), Matthew Bell, Selwyn Blackmore, Jason Wells, Roger Twose, Grant Donaldson, Richard Petrie, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Regan West, Jeetan Patel, Robert Kennedy.