Cricket: Suspension clouds Wellington victory

By CHRIS RATTUE

Wellington claimed a dramatic win over Northern Districts yesterday, but were hit by the suspension of their captain, Matthew Bell.

The State Championship match at Hamilton, with its erratic batting performances, produced the first one-wicket win in New Zealand first-class cricket for four seasons.

But, after a code of conduct hearing yesterday, Bell will miss Wellington's match against Otago starting at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

The discarded New Zealand opener was reported for unacceptable behaviour by umpires Mike George and Brent Bowden, after George had given Bell out lbw late on the third day.

George told New Zealand Cricket regional commissioner Gerald Bailey that Bell was attempting a run as he gave the decision, at which Bell said "**** off" while looking at him.

Bowden only heard Bell use the word "Mike."

The Wellington management contended Bell used the phrase in "self-admonishment".

Bell told the hearing he had visited the umpires half an hour after stumps to "clear the air", explaining that he had meant no offence.

Bell claimed he said "for ****'s sake", but conceded it was reasonable for the umpire to believe the phrase was aimed at him. He has 48 hours to seek the right to appeal.

Bailey ruled that the umpire could rightly assume the phrase was aimed at him.

Wellington took victory when No 11 batsman Jeetan Patel lofted a ball from left-arm spinner Matthew Hart over mid-on for four to pass the target of 242.

The match, which produced 13 ducks, was always in the balance, once Wellington had clawed back the initial advantage the home side gained through Michael Parlane's brilliant first-innings 146.

Wellington started the last day needing 125 for victory with eight wickets in hand.

When medium pacer Scott Styris claimed the wickets of the overnight batsmen, David Sales for 62 and Selwyn Blackmore for 32, and Matthew Walker with a sharp return catch in the space of two overs, the match swung Northern's way.

Wellington still needed 51 for victory, with four wickets remaining, when Grant Donaldson guided a Styris delivery to James Marshall at second slip.

But James Franklin, with 30, organised the final surge to victory, putting on 20 with Patel for the final wicket.

Wellington coach Vaughan Johnson said: "We were down and out a few times but we hung in there."