Cricket: Wellington too sharp for doleful Auckland

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

Inspired by Andrew Penn's five-wicket haul and a timely half-century from English professional David Sales, Wellington made short work of a dispirited Auckland team at Eden Park yesterday.

Chasing 115, scored in 44 painful overs, Wellington picked up their eighth State Shield win with seven wickets and 18.4 overs in hand to book the direct route to next Saturday's final.

They will meet either Northern Districts or Canterbury, who clash in a day-night semifinal in Hamilton on Wednesday.

There was only one team in yesterday's match, played on the park's outer oval.

From the time Matt Horne lifted his bat to leave a delivery from Penn only to have wickets scattered, the Auckland innings went into a tailspin.

The poor shot selection, a major contributor in their mid-week hiding in Hamilton, was again all too evident.

Llorne Howell took 91 minutes for his 11, while Tama Canning, who batted 45 minutes for 22, was the only batsman to get beyond 20.

Gareth Shaw and Richard Morgan shared the best partnership, of 30, for the last wicket. They at least showed some fight, with Shaw deserving better than having to bat at No 11.

The Wellington attack cashed in on Auckland's meek surrender.

Penn gave them nothing. Neither did Ash Turner, who continued his season's good form with three wickets, including two from successive balls when he removed Tim McIntosh and Aaron Barnes.

After 15 overs Auckland were in deep trouble at 33 for three. They never recovered.

Penn finished his 10 overs with five for 19 and underlined his accuracy by getting through his three spells without conceding a wide or no ball.

Wellington, chasing a total which was hardly likely to stretch them, began with a bang with Chris Nevin thumping Shaw's first delivery to the boundary.

That joy was short lived, however, as Shaw cleaned him out with the next and soon had a deserved second wicket when a diving Reece Young held a good wicketkeeper's catch to dismiss Richard Jones.

Shaw got through his opening eight-over spell with an impressive two for 21, but went for 12 from his last two overs.

There was not a lot of support from the other end as Brooke Walker rang the changes.

Morgan picked up Wellington captain Matthew Bell - again well-taken by Young - but apart from a tight spell when the visitors struggled to get more than a couple of runs an over, there was little enthusiasm from the Auckland attack.

Sales provided Wellington's backbone.

Sixes from the bowling of Mark Haslam, who had begun with two maiden overs, and Aaron Barnes helped him to 50 (104 minutes, 82 balls) as Wellington coasted home and deservedly into the Basin Reserve final.

With Central taking maximum points from their match against Otago, Auckland finished the season at the foot of the table.

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Queens Park in Invercargill again proved Otago's bogey ground as they succumbed to Central.

Otago lost by seven wickets to Central last year, and life did not get any easier yesterday as the defending champions strolled home by 99 runs.

Central Districts, with a century from relative newcomer Peter Ingram, managed 242 for six in their 50 overs.

Otago struggled from the outset and never seriously challenged the total in the face of some tight bowling as paceman Michael Mason claimed four for 16 off eight overs.

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In Timaru, Northern beat Canterbury by 57 runs.