Cricket: Twose pays debt to team-mates

Roger Twose was looking to make amends yesterday for his poor results for Wellington in the Shell Cup.

He blasted his way to 108 at a rate of almost a run a ball, and struck a remarkable 22 boundaries, in the Shell Trophy match against Auckland at the Basin Reserve.

Though tired after three one-day internationals for New Zealand in six days, and with Wellington playing the day after the shattering one-wicket loss to Zimbabwe in Auckland, Twose said he had some unfinished business.

The upshot was a third-wicket stand of 168 in 144 minutes with fellow century-maker Matthew Bell, which provided the backbone behind the trophy leader's total of 301, and a first innings lead of 46.

From the last ball of day two, Auckland lost the wicket of Tim McIntosh, bowled by off-spinner Jeetan Patel, to be 16 for one, and still 30 behind Wellington.

Twose's returns in the domestic competition have been a contradiction. While the one-day game is his forte, his Shell Cup aggregate so far is a miserable 52 runs at an average of 8.66.

In the first-class trophy matches he has scored 294 at 73.50 an innings, which has also included a match-winning 84 from 38 balls against Otago.

"I'm playing the four-day games like I do the one-dayers, and it has its advantages, though I probably threw my wicket away this time," Twose said.

"I'm not prepared to grind it out any more. It doesn't suit my style.

"It helps to advance the game. When I played at Warwickshire, Brian Lara did that for us. It gives you more time."

Twose said he was disappointed with his cup form, and knew he owed his Wellington team-mates something.

"It's hard to know why I've not been able to perform in the cup."

It was his fifth first-class century for Wellington, and the 18th of his career.

Bell's 104 from 227 balls tended to be dwarfed by comparison, but it was similarly valuable.

With Twose in charge after lunch, Bell became the junior partner.

At the start of the season Bell set himself a lofty goal of scoring three centuries in each of the cup and trophy. He has yet to manage one in the cup, but he now has four in the trophy, which equalled Robert Vance's Wellington record for the most in a season.

He is also pushing on towards Vance's Wellington record aggregate for a season, of 888, with 577 at an average of 82.42.

- NZPA