Cricket: Windies prosper as NZ twiddle thumbs

By RICHARD BOOCK

Right about the time Darren Ganga was making a statement about the West Indies' test preparations yesterday, the New Zealand cricketers' build-up was coming in for some more critical scrutiny.

The 20-year-old Ganga wrapped up the tourists' competitive lead-in to this week's test with his first century for the West Indies as the rain-affected four-day match against Auckland ended in a predictable draw on Eden Park's Outer Oval.

The right-hander failed to produce a meaningful innings in Taupo and was out cheaply in the first innings against Auckland, but his unbeaten 100 yesterday was nothing if not timely with the first test starting on Thursday.

With opening partner Sherwin Campbell, who scored his second century of the match before retiring hurt - a precaution according to Brian Lara - Ganga helped to add 196 in the two sessions before the close yesterday, leaving the West Indies in a buoyant mood as they headed south to Hamilton.

"It's nice to know some of your key players are getting among the runs," Lara said afterwards. "We've had seven days of first-class cricket and we've had four centuries, which is good for us, augurs well for the future and helps our confidence."

On the other hand, New Zealand coach David Trist, who has already been busy rejecting claims that the New Zealanders are underdone for the match, was facing more questions about his team's build-up after the practice match against Canterbury was washed out at Lincoln Green in Christchurch yesterday.

Less than two hours' play was possible on the second day of the two-day match, which will mean most of the New Zealand players will begin the test not having played a first-class match since late October.

Trist said he would have preferred more time in the field during the practice match but was confident his players would be up to speed for the West Indian challenge.

"Really, we're only talking about Stephen Fleming, Dion Nash and Craig McMillan coming off injury," he said. "Most of them couldn't have done any more anyway because they were either injured or had been playing for other teams."

The New Zealand coach believed Chris Cairns was better left fresh and willing for the test, and said he was not losing any sleep over Gary Stead's loss of form, as the Canterbury batsman was not "a player who seems to need a run of scores to back him up."

"Gary quite rightly plays the next game and the next ball on its merits and that's one of his great strengths."

With the West Indies playing just two test matches on the tour, the first has taken on extra significance, and Lara said he was particularly aware of the need to strike while the form was hot.

"If you get one up in the series you can't lose, so it's vitally important to have our game together right from the start - and it's coming together.

Campbell's second century was in stark contrast to his first-innings effort, the right-hander blazing a dozen fours in his first 50 (48 balls) before galloping to three figures with a huge six off left-armer Richard Morgan.

Ganga was more circumspect in comparison, but still struck out at a lively pace, bringing up his first 50 off 71 balls and his maiden century for the West Indies off 150 balls. The match was called off with the Windies second innings poised at 228 without loss.