Cricket: Stead not quibbling on points

Canterbury captain Gary Stead was not quibbling with his team's two-round return of seven points as they prepare to carry on without their Black Caps.

A decisive victory over Otago in Dunedin was followed by a first innings tie with Northern Districts at Dudley Park, Rangiora, that match being halted by rain on Saturday and washed out yesterday.

Stead said that when the weather was taken into consideration, Canterbury could have expected no more than eight points leading into tomorrow's game against Wellington, also at Dudley Park.

"You have to be happy with that. It was always going to be hard playing Northern Districts, who have a number of Black Caps as well, and getting the full points against them," Stead said.

"But if it had been a fine day [yesterday] we had the opportunity to get the full points.

"Unfortunately, the weather has dictated to us."

Northern were 163 for six wickets in their second innings when the rain began to fall shortly after tea on Saturday.

Earlier, Canterbury tailenders Shane Bond and Chris Martin had nudged the home side level with Northern's total of 236.

Bond lofted a ball from fellow international Daryl Tuffey to the long-on boundary. But the next ball struck him on the pads, there was indecision between the batsmen, and Martin was stranded by Michael Parlane's throw to Tuffey.

Apart from opener Nick Horsley, the Northern top-order again struggled on a pitch that continued to provide uneven pace and bounce.

- NZPA