Cricket: Tuffey's form likely to frustrate national selectors

Daryl Tuffey showed the kind of form that must make the national selectors cringe in frustration as he bowled Auckland to victory in three days over Northern Districts at the Eden Park outer oval yesterday.

With a concentrated burst of aggressive pace bowling on what had seemed to be a batsman's paradise, Tuffey took six wickets for 33 off 19 overs as Northern crumbled to 218 in their second innings to be beaten by an innings and 16 runs. The win consolidates their position at the top of the State Championship table.

Tuffey has remained available for Auckland while his involvement in the Indian rebel league has restricted his opportunities at a higher level. Northern trailed Auckland by 234 on the first innings and Tuffey threatened a very early end when he took three for six from his first nine overs of the second.

But Northern Districts batsman Kane Williamson came within five runs of joining an elite group of players in New Zealand who have scored their maiden first-class century and another hundred in the same game.

The 18-year-old from Tauranga hit 111 in the first innings, bringing up his hundred with a six. He was caught on the boundary for 95 in the second innings as he skied a similar bold blow yesterday. The maiden double has been achieved by only three players.

Williamson added 132 with Michael Parlane, who was caught off Lance Shaw for 72, but Tuffey and spinner Tarun Nethula ensured the revival fell short. The Auckland innings of 540 featured centuries by Anaru Kitchen, his second in succession, and Colin de Grandhomme. Kitchen's 132 came off 213 balls with 18 fours and five sixes and he shared a 199 partnership with Reece Young (78).

De Grandhomme's 104 contained six sixes and eight fours as he pummelled an attack weakened by the absence of Brent Arnel with an injured side. With 13 centuries, including two double-hundreds, recorded on the outer oval in four first-class games this season, batsmen will probably be volunteering to carry the pitch to Colin Maiden Park when the headquarters moves for next season.

* Batsman Johann Myburgh attained one milestone but narrowly missed another as Canterbury took firm control of their match against Central Districts.

Stranded on 96 overnight after bad light in New Plymouth forced the players from Pukekura Park 15 overs early on Saturday, Myburgh quickly reached three figures and set his sights on doubling it for just the second time in his career. But the South African immigrant was run out by Tim Weston for a magnificent 199 as Canterbury went on to post 493 in their first innings before the hosts were reduced to 139 for five in reply. With two days remaining of the four-day game, Canterbury seem poised to add to their just two competition points with the eighth and final round of matches this week.

* Out of contention for the final with one round remaining, Otago are now hellbent on denying Wellington a path to the decider next month. With one day remaining of their seventh round four-day fixture here at the Basin Reserve, Otago are 257 for two in their second innings, holding an overall advantage of 202 runs.

Wellington will need to chase down a target today to improve on the 20 competition points, leaving them third behind Auckland and Central Districts.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA