Cricket: Parlane stands and delivers

By CHRIS RATTUE

Rejuvenated Northern Districts batsman Michael Parlane put a bear hold on Wellington in Hamilton yesterday.

Parlane's remarkable 146 on the second day of the State Championship match not only represented nearly 65 per cent of his team's total, but came in a contest where only one other batsmen has managed to sneak past 20 so far.

Rain and poor light have heavily curtailed the four-day match at WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton. More than 70 overs have been lost but time does not appear to be the essence on what has been a paceman's pitch.

After Parlane steered Northern to 227, Wellington destructed on the green pitch against Northern's opening bowlers, Joe Yovich and Graeme Aldridge.

At stumps, Northern - minus their New Zealand pacemen Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler - had Wellington under the hammer at 76 for eight - still two runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

The 29-year-old Parlane reappeared in the Northern lineup only during the one-day series.

In the early part of the season, he was left out for "attitude and fitness" reasons, but buckled down to gymnasium work in Whangarei and reclaimed his place.

"Bear" Parlane is from the stand-and-deliver batting school.

He is always liable to play and miss, but there are not too many half-hearted shots in the Parlane armoury.

Although none of his team-mates managed to pass 20, Parlane hit 21 fours and a six from 261 deliveries - but he did take the energetic route to bring up his hundred with a square cut for three.

It was a case of deja vu for Wellington.

They recorded their lowest ever total of 78 against Northern Districts in the match at Hamilton last year, when Tuffey took seven for 12. As it happened, 78 became Wellington's target to avoid the follow-on last night.

Wellington did not take maximum advantage of the pitch conditions as they allowed Northern - or make that Parlane with some noble late support from Bruce Martin - to record a reasonable first innings total.

Discarded New Zealand one-day bowler James Franklin created some early problems for the Northern batsmen but while he beat the bat, Franklin was erratic with his line and no balls.

It was left to the more accurate Andrew Penn to make best use of the conditions as he finished with seven for 71 to keep his side in the hunt.

But the Wellington top order crashed, with the first six wickets falling for 28.