Cricket: Rangiora rivals in tame draw

Wellington picked up two points from a tedious draw with Canterbury yesterday.

Three balls were all that was needed for Wellington to wrap up Canterbury's first innings at their overnight score of 338 in Rangiora.

The odds heavily favoured Wellington taking the two points available when Canterbury resumed at Dudley Park 61 runs behind and nine down.

No 11 batsman Chris Martin speared Ian O'Brien's third delivery into the hands of Richard Jones at second slip.

Fittingly, it was O'Brien who ended the innings. At one point he had none for 66 off 21 overs. But his next 24.3 overs went for only 37 and he took six wickets through his nagging line and length in a marathon spell.

Wellington, once they were assured of first innings points, were never going to give Canterbury a run chase on a pitch unsympathetic to the bowlers and, mercifully, stumps were drawn at tea with Wellington 246 ahead and with six wickets in hand.

Points: Auckland 10, Wellington 9, Central 8, Canterbury 7, Otago 6, Northern 1.

- NZPA