Cricket: Wiseman takes record 9 for 13

Paul Wiseman

Paul Wiseman bowled his way into the New Zealand record books with an amazing nine for 13 in Central Districts' second innings at the Village Green in Christchurch yesterday.

Only the 10 for 28 taken by Albert Moss - also for Canterbury - more than a century ago rates ahead of Wiseman's effort as Central stumbled to 122 to lose the State Championship match by 343 runs.

It was the biggest winning margin (on runs difference) by a Canterbury team. The previous best was 342 over Auckland in 1924-25.

Wiseman took over after Chris Martin had taken Jamie How's wicket at the top of Central's second innings.

He bagged one wicket before stumps on Sunday night and claimed all eight wickets to fall yesterday.

Wiseman, 34, was quick to pay tribute to his team-mates but, more importantly, the pitch at QE 11 Park.

"It had bounce throughout which is always a help to a spin bowler," Wiseman said as he and the Canterbury players celebrated with a "couple of quiets" after the match.

"The other assistance came from the foot marks left by the Central bowlers.

"For one of the rare occasions since my Otago days I was able to exploit the footmarks left by left-armers.

"David Sewell and Shayne O'Connor did the job for me then; this time it was Central's Lance Hamilton and Ewen Thompson."

English-born Moss, on debut, took all 10 wickets from 21.3 overs in opening the bowling as Wellington were dismissed for 71 in the 1889-90 season.

Wiseman was the 15th player to bag nine wickets in an innings in New Zealand.

He goes to the top of that list, ahead of Albert Wensley, also English-born, who took nine for 36 for Auckland against Otago in 1929-30.

"Sure, it rates up there with the best moments I have had in cricket," said Wiseman, who joined Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming, among others, in making his first class debut in the 1991-92 season.

Of players still playing domestically, only Chris Cairns, Astle and Fleming have played more than Wiseman's 138 first-class matches. His previous best bowling, eight for 66, was for Otago against Wellington eight seasons ago.

Wiseman has not always been a first-choice player - in either domestic or international cricket - being forced to move from Auckland to Otago early in his career.

"Auckland had the two New Zealand spinners in Mark Haslam and Dipak Patel, so I could see I would struggle if I stayed," said Wiseman who later, while in a relationship, moved to Christchurch.

His 22-match test career also has been a stop-start affair since his debut against Sri Lanka in May 1998.

Encouraged by some good efforts in Australia late last year when he was Daniel Vettori's spinning understudy, Wiseman is in no hurry to call it quits. "I suppose when you have been around for 14 seasons there is a bit of experience to call on."

Yet, despite the thousands of deliveries he has sent down, Wiseman has yet to snare a hat-trick.

Leading first-class bowling

* Albert Moss (Canterbury) 21.3-10-28-10 (1889-90)
* Paul Wiseman (Canterbury) 16.4-9-13-9 (2004-05)
* Albert Wensley (Auckland) 24-13-36-9 (1929-30)
* T. Eden (Nelson) 15.2-0-43-9 (1875-76)
* Thomas Dent (Hawkes Bay) 28-11-47-9 (1900-01)