Cricket: When all hinges on toss of coin

Plenty of cricket matches are decided at the toss and there was no better example of that than at Waikanae Domain on the Kapiti Coast yesterday.

Central Districts won the flip of the coin and effectively the State Shield one-dayer against Wellington when they had first use of an extremely sporting surface.

The pitch eventually settled down, but by that stage Central were chasing 167 in a match shortened to 41 overs. They mowed down the target with eight wickets and 10.2 overs to spare.

Central captain Jacob Oram acknowledged the toss had a significant bearing on the match, but he was quick to praise his new-ball bowlers Lance Hamilton and Michael Mason, who reduced Wellington to eight for two after 10 overs.

The quality cricket came later in the day when Jarrod Englefield scored 80 and Craig Spearman 68 as they put together an unbroken third wicket stand of 148.

Englefield hit 10 fours and two sixes in his 86-ball innings, a knock which drew considerable praise from Oram.

"I didn't know I had that in me. I'm more of a four-day player," Englefield said.

"Jake said to be positive and I just took that on board and Spears was great as well. Previously I've just waited for the bad ball but today I wanted to play positively and I'm just rapt."

Spearman and Englefield came together at 19 for two after Mathew Sinclair had smashed a ball to Michael Parlane at cover. The game was in the balance at that point.

But while Central's batting went up a gear, Wellington's bowling was largely ineffective - with the exception of left-arm swing bowler James Franklin.

Oram hopes Englefield's contribution is the start of something big for the batsman.

"I grew up with Jarrod and we went to England on the youth tour in 1996 when he was about 16 and he was touted for big things.

"It hasn't quite worked out like that yet but I would like to think he's turned a page in his career today.

"He played with much more aggression than normal."

Spearman was only slightly less impressive than his partner. He also faced 86 balls and in between his five fours and a six were some deft touches.

Central Districts now head the one-day standings at the halfway point of the competition.

Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson refused to criticise his players, believing the toss decided the match.

Their campaign is now off the rails as Wellington have collected just six points from five rounds.

"Ninety per cent of the match was at the toss. We might've been a wee bit flat at the end when we bowled but I can't fault them," Johnson said.

In the other match, played in Dunedin, Northern Districts beat Otago by two wickets.

- NZPA