Cricket: Vettori stands and delivers

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Daniel Vettori has always fancied himself as a batsman but there was still some surprise when he opened the batting for Northern Districts on his return to Shell Cup cricket on Eden Park's outer oval yesterday.

Contacted by ND selector/coach Chris Kuggeleijn during the one-day international between New Zealand and the West Indies in Christchurch, the idea of "having a crack as an opener" was mooted.

Vettori, always one to accept a challenge, did not hesitate.

He scored 50 in 23 minutes from 27 balls - the best so far this season - as he and Michael Parlane shared an unbeaten opening partnership of 82 before a deluge washed out play for the day.

Not bad for a player who did not get even one bat as New Zealand swept to a 5-0 whitewash over the West Indies in the one-day series.

"We had not been having great starts and we always saw Daniel as an option once he was ready to play," said Kuggeleijn. "We have used him at three in the past so we decided to talk it over with him. We have always believed he and Scott Styris who bat at 10 and 11 for New Zealand can play a bit."

In a limited Shell Cup career Vettori had a highest score of just 26, scored in Northern's win over Canterbury in the final two seasons ago.

"I told him to just go out and play normally," said Kuggeleijn. "If they had managed only 15 off five overs it would not have been a problem."

On a pitch everyone thought "would zing around" Vettori smacked 11 well-struck boundaries as the Auckland bowlers bowled short and wide. With the field up and joining Parlane in an ideal "left-right" pairing, Vettori was in command.

Vettori has the chance to build on his whirlwind knock this morning when the match resumes.

A minimum of 30 overs per side - starting from where the game finished yesterday - must be completed, weather permitting. If not, both teams will take a point.