Cricket: Run-out ploy mars achievements

WELLINGTON - Richard Petrie is Shell Cup cricket's first player to achieve a double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, but controversy dogs the veteran allrounder this season.

Playing against Canterbury on Wednesday, the side for which he first played, Petrie dismissed Brad Doody to achieve the goal he set himself at the start of the series. He has scored 1476 runs and taken 101 wickets.

On a more controversial note, Petrie continued his habit of running out batsmen backing up when he is running in to bowl.

That method, which is regarded as an unsporting act, but allowed under the strict letter of the law, was how Petrie ran out Doody.

But as has happened on the two previous occasions he has used the ploy this year, Wellington captain Jason Wells rushed in to call the batsman back, as he is entitled to do.

The dismissal is referred to as a "Mankad" because Indian player Vinod Mankad proved so proficient at it in the post-Second World War years.

"We are never going to get people out that way," Wells said. "`Peaches' [Petrie] is just doing it, playing mind games with the batsmen.

"He has warned some of the players that they are creeping out of their ground when backing up but I don't know if he did against Canterbury. It is not something we want to encourage from him." - NZPA