Cricket: Slow progress for Canterbury batsmen

Canterbury's second echelon of batsmen did the hard yards against Zimbabwe when their three-day cricket match began at Jade Stadium in Christchurch yesterday.

Robbie Frew, Harley James, Hamish Barton and Marcel McKenzie, none of them regulars in the Canterbury first XI, warily and wearily guided their side towards 185 for four from 90 overs.

Seasoned campaigners Nathan Astle and Gary Stead saw out the final stages of a day shortened by 35 minutes because of rain.

Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald was not critical of the slow pace after Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to field, saying that "the young guys are playing for places. We are trying to get something out of this game as well."

Youth will also be given its day when Canterbury bowls, after veteran seamer Warren Wisneski was made 12th man.

The Zimbabweans, perhaps bedazzled by the pitch's greenish tinge, chose to field only to discover that there was precious little assistance for the bowlers.

Test batsman Astle, playing at the request of the New Zealand selectors, waited until 40 minutes from stumps for his chance.

He was confronted by the second new ball when he finally got to the middle and will resume today on nine.

A promising opening by Frew and James only served to deceive. They made steady progress against the far from lethal opening attack mounted by Bryan Strang and Angus Mackay, while the menacing Henry Olonga searched for rhythm and direction.

Olonga bowled himself into form, and when legspinner Brian Murphy was introduced at the other end the runs were reduced to a trickle.

At one stage only eight runs were squeezed from 15 overs. Murphy conceded just a single from six of his.

James, who made 30 in 122 minutes, was eventually beaten by Olonga. Frew made 44 in 185 minutes before causing his own downfall by patting a catch back to Strang.

Any thoughts of a Zimbabwe breakthrough were put to rest by Barton and McKenzie, the latter a late replacement after Jarrod Englefield withdrew because of a back strain.

For long periods the match was stalemated, the occasional boundary rousing those among the few spectators and any fieldsmen who might have been nodding off.

Barton scored 48 in 195 minutes from nine fours and 12 singles while McKenzie, who scored 26 in 135 minutes, was equally cautious.

The second new ball heralded their demise. Barton touched Olonga's first delivery through to the wicketkeeper and McKenzie was bowled by Strang without playing a shot in the next over.

Astle unveiled one flashing cut off Olonga and Stead took two boundaries behind point from Strang to nudge the run rate just above two per over for the day.

The poor results the New Zealand cricket team endured in South Africa have not been reflected in the TAB odds for the Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe.

The Black Caps will go into the Basin Reserve test warm favourites at $1.45 with the visitors at a healthy $8.50. The draw, a rarity in Wellington tests, is at $3.10.

- NZPA