Cricket: Pleasure and pain in Wilson's return

Jeff Wilson had a bitter-sweet return to cricket yesterday when he top-scored for Otago against Canterbury at Alexandra, but suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury when bowling in the one-day match.

After scoring 86 off 63 balls with the bat, Wilson pulled up when bowling the first ball of his seventh over and walked gingerly and dejectedly from the field.

He was playing his first game since straining his left hamstring against Auckland a month ago.

The former All Black seems almost certain to miss Otago's next State Shield match, against Auckland in Alexandra tomorrow.

"It's just so frustrating," Wilson said after Otago scored 292 for six to win by 16 runs.

"Hopefully, it's not as bad as when I did it in Auckland, but I won't know until it settles."

Wilson conceded just 13 runs, and bowled three maidens, in his 6.1 overs before he left the field.

Earlier, he and captain Rob Lawson combined in an Otago record fourth-wicket stand of 147 off 125 balls.

Warren McSkimming, who is himself recovering from an abdominal strain, is likely to replace Wilson tomorrow if the latter, as expected, is ruled out of the game.

* Auckland made a damp start to the competition when their opening match against Central Districts was washed out in New Plymouth.

The match was abandoned at 3.15pm after rain left the Pukekura Park outfield sodden. Officials waited as long as possible, hoping for a reduced 30-overs-a-side match.

Central Districts chief executive Blair Furlong said the wet outfield made conditions dangerous for players.

Central coach Mark Greatbatch said he was disappointed but looking forward to his side's match against Northern Districts in Palmerston tomorrow.

Central bowler Ewen Thompson has been called back from Christchurch, where he was playing in the provincial A tournament, to cover for Brent Hefford, who has a lower back strain.

Northern will be looking to turn the corner on what has been a dismal season so far.

Last season's one-day champions are bottom of the State Championship four-day standings and lost their opening-round match against Wellington on Thursday.

- NZPA