Cricket: Workhorse Gillespie gives Wellington powerful start

Wellington cricketer Mark Gillespie is fast gaining a reputation for being the man to turn to when the captain needs a job done.

Gillespie certainly put his hand up yesterday when Wellington made a strong start to the State Championship cricket match against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve in the capital.

The right arm fast-medium bowler revelled under a heavy workload to take career-best figures of six for 78 as Canterbury reached stumps at an unconvincing 256 for nine.

The competition leaders, Wellington need only first-innings points in this match to secure home honours for the final starting on April 3.

Gillespie, 26, has given them every chance of doing just that after he pocketed the sixth five-wicket bag of his first-class career.

It also lifted his haul this season to 43 first-class wickets at an average of close to 24, after Canterbury made a promising start as openers Todd Astle and Michael Papps put on 85 for the first wicket.

Gillespie then imposed himself, dismissing Astle for 56 and Papps for 25 in quick succession, then bowling discarded international Craig McMillan for a golden duck.

At 87/3 Canterbury needed someone to dig in and captain Chris Harris, Andrew Ellis and Craig Ross at least occupied the crease. But none managed to contribute a big innings as Stead went for 36, Harris 29 and Ellis 28 before No 10 Craig Ross swung lustily for 20. Workhorse Gillespie got through 24 overs, backed up by Grant Elliott, who took 2-52 off 21 overs.

Bad weather saw no play in both Hamilton, where Northern Districts are facing Central Districts, and Auckland, where the home side are up against Otago.

- NZPA