Cricket: Rain a blow to ND's chances on green pitch

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Butler was never going to do it in Hamilton.

And, thanks to the weather, no one else got much of a chance either, as mid-table sides Northern Districts and Wellington were stumped by the rain at WestpacTrust Park yesterday.

Just 42 overs were bowled as Northern reached 103 for three wickets in the resumption of the State Championship after the break for the one-day series.

Unheralded Northern Districts quick bowler Ian Butler had already been placed in higher service at the behest of convenor of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee.

That left Northern without one of their major strike weapons on a pitch that English captain Nasser Hussain has rated as one of the quickest outside of Perth.

Butler's absence helped Simon Doull, the former international swing bowler, who was recalled to the Northern four-day side.

Wellington won the toss and Matthew Bell's decision to bowl almost claimed handsome dividends.

James Marshall, Matthew Hart - who clung on for 86 deliveries in scoring 14 - and Scott Styris were all dismissed cheaply.

But Wellington's position would have been even stronger had Grant Donaldson held a catch in the slips off Hamish Marshall, from James Franklin's bowling.

The ship was steadied by another recalled player, Michael Parlane, who scored 67 from 126 deliveries as Northern clambered to three figures before the rain arrived in the mid-afternoon.

Long after the handful of diehard spectators had departed, Bell was still keen to hang on for another fling on the greentop pitch. But umpires Brent Bowden and Mike George called it a day two hours after the players had left the field.

* The top-of-the-table contest between Auckland and Canterbury at Eden Park was washed out by persistent rain.

At Molyneux Park in Alexandra, Otago made a good fist of the first day of their cellar-dwellers' contest against Central Districts. Having rolled CD for just 185, Otago were 48 for two at stumps. Only captain Glen Sulzberger, 36, and Andrew Schwass, who got 39 not out, made much progress for CD.

Kerry Walmsley was the pick of the Otago attack, with four for 40.