Cricket: Rain reigns at crucial Cup phase

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Confusion reigned off and on the cricket field yesterday as the race to find the top three teams in the Shell Cup spilled over to today's reserve day.

There was no play at either Eden Park, in the battle between Canterbury and Auckland to find the top qualifier, or at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park, where Central Districts were to play Northern Districts.

The match between Wellington and Otago at the Basin Reserve got away to a delayed start with the intention of a 44-over game.

Rain interfered just after the umpires had reduced the game to 42 overs and the teams will return this morning to complete the shortened match with Otago - sent in to bat - resuming at 107 for seven with Mark Richardson on 54 and Warren McSkimming on 1.

Wellington are especially keen to get as much play as possible. They want to not only beat Otago, but also improve their poor run-rate differential.

Northern will be without captain Robbie Hart today. He has returned to Hamilton for personal reasons after flying to Palmerston North yesterday morning to rejoin the side.

Hamilton wicketkeeper Nathan Daley will take Hart's place. It will be Daley's debut at this level although he has played a couple of Cricket Max games for Northern.

Daley joined his team-mates in time for an indoor practice at Palmerston North Boys' High School late yesterday afternoon.

Grant Bradburn, who was 12th man for last Sunday's game against Christchurch, will captain Northern today.

The off-field action surrounded the proposed code of conduct hearing following an incident in Sunday's game between Wellington and Central Districts in Wellington.

The matter was raised by CD coach Dipak Patel - much to his surprise as he expected the match umpires to take up the issue - and was yesterday handed back to Cricket Wellington by New Zealand Cricket.

National code of conduct commissioner Nick Davidson gave NZC leave to handle the matter in this way.

The Wellington association has appointed Tim Castle to undertake the hearing which concerns Wellington players Richard Petrie and Chris Nevin, following an incident involving match umpire Reg Alexander and CD batsman Glen Sulzberger.

No other Wellington players have been cited.

Castle said yesterday he had yet to set a date for the hearing.

"It will be done promptly - as soon as I can arrange it and get the witnesses both I and others want to hear from to a hearing," said Castle. "It will not be this week but as soon as possible thereafter."

There has been a precedent for such a procedure this season.

Northern Districts allrounder Mark Bailey had a case against him heard by ND commissioner Gerald Bailey, who handed him a two-match ban - which included the team's first Shell Cup match of the season - following an incident in a representative fixture.