There was a lot of interest in the outcome of the 3 matches on the last day of round robin play. ND beat Auckland and qualified number 1 and will play Auckland in tomorrow’s final. The other four teams play each other in two T20 matches.
Scores from round 5:
Otago vs Wellington
Otago; 234/8 (Jordan Sheed 40, Sean Eathorne 49, Mark Craig 54) beat Wellington; 225/7 (Steven Murdoch 85, will Somerville 3-50, Mark Craig 3-38)
On the BSO Otago won the toss and chose to bat. They lost Hamish Rutherford and Michael Bracewell early to be 9/2 but then there was an 87 run partnership for the 3rd wicket between Jordan Sheed who made 40 and Sean Eathorne who made 49. They went in quick succession before Shaun Fitzgibbon and Mark Craig put on 79 for the 6th wicket. At the end of 50 overs Otago had reached 234/8. Wellington started well putting on 53 for the first wicket. Steven Murdoch hit 85 off 119 balls and there was a series of steady partnerships that had Wellington well placed for victory at 203/4 after 44 overs. However the Otago spin duo of Will Somerville and Mark Craig combined well taking 6 wickets between them to restrict Wellington to 225/7 at the end of 50 overs. Giving Otago a win that had earlier looked like a cruisy victory for Wellington.
Northern Districts vs Auckland
Northern Districts; 205/9 (Ian Page 73) beat Auckland; 142 (Dusan Hakaraia 42, Keir Bettley 3-16)
ND won the toss and batted in their top of the table clash against Auckland on Lincoln Green. They made a steady start with Cameron Merchant and Jonno Boult putting on 54 for the first wicket. Brad Wilson went cheaply but Ian Page held the innings together with 73 off 95 balls. Both Tamati Clarke with 23 and Simon Andrews also with 25 contributed but at the end of 50 overs they had lost 9 wickets for 205. All the ND bowlers took wickets with Colin Munro the most successful with 2/29 off 5 overs. In reply Auckland was in trouble at 2/17 and never recovered. They lost wickets regularly and were all out for 142 in 40.1 overs. Dusan Hakaraia top scored with 42 and ND spinner Keir Bettley took 3/16 off 6.1 overs.
Central Districts vs Canterbury
Central Districts; 285/7 (Mark Calkin 46, Greg Hay 44, Marty Kain 3-30) lost to Canterbury; 289/5 (Darren Broom 140*, Sam Noster 46)
At Lincoln Green Canterbury won the toss and fielded. All the CD batsmen made starts but no one reached 50. Opener Mark Calkin top scored with 46, Greg Hay made 44 and Dominic Rayner made 39. At the end of 50 overs CD had made 285/7. Michael Davidson took 2/55 off 10 overs. Darren Broom anchored Canterbury’s run chase with a brilliant unbeaten 140 off 114 balls and with Sam Noster hitting 46 off 41 balls at the top of the innings Canterbury paced the run chase to perfection winning with 3 balls to spare. Richard Sherlock took 2/14 off 5 overs and off spinner Tim Lythe 2/67 off his 10 overs for CD.
Final placings and points at the end of Round 5
1st ND 18
2nd Auckland 16
3rd Otago 14
4th Canterbury 13
5th Wellington 4
6th Central Districts 0
Tomorrow’s matches:
50 over match 1 v 2 – 10.00am start
ND v Auckland on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval
T20 matches – 10.00am start
3 v 4
Otago v Canterbury at Lincoln No. 3
5 v 6
Wellington v CD at Lincoln Green
T20 matches - 2.30pm start
3 v 5
Otago v Wellington at Lincoln No. 3
4 v 6
Canterbury v CD at Lincoln Green
With the final being played on Tuesday between the top two teams, Auckland is assured of a place but there will be much interest in tomorrows matches - Wellington v Otago, ND v Auckland and CD v Canterbury to see whether it is ND, Otago or Canterbury who will play them.
Scores from round 4:
Otago vs Canterbury
Otago; 173(Anthony Bullick 46, Sam Wells 39, Michael Davidson 3-32) lost to Canterbury; 177/1(Ben Rae 78, Todd Astle 78*)
On the BSO Otago batted first in their match against southern rivals Canterbury. It was a disappointing batting effort by Otago who were all out for 173 in 44.4 overs. Anthony Bullick batting at number 8 top scored with 46. For Canterbury Michael Davidson took 3/32 off 9 overs. In reply Canterbury coasted to victory losing opener Ben Rae for 78 off 114 balls when the scores were tied. The opening partnership had been worth 173 runs. Todd Astle, the other opener was unbeaten on 78 off 100 balls to give Canterbury a comprehensive win.
Wellington vs Auckland
Wellington; 261/9(Josh Brodie 66, Jarrad Sewell 61, Greg Morgan 3-41, Andrew De Boorder 3-48) lost to Auckland; 262/4(Dushan Hakaraia 99*, Mark Turner 50, Jarrad Sewell 3-40)
Wellington won the toss and chose to bat first in their match against Auckland at Lincoln No. 3. Openers Josh Brodie and Steven Murdoch put on 57 for the first wicket and Michael Pollard and Brodie put on 66 for the 3rd wicket. There was then a collapse before Jarrad Sewell and Darren Cudby put on 84 for the 7th wicket. Sewell scored 61 off 43 balls. For Auckland Greg Morgan took 3/41 off 9 overs and Andrew De Boorder 3/48 off 7 overs. Auckland started well with Mark Turner and Jeet Raval putting on 101 for the first wicket. Raval made 37 and Turner 50 but the highlight was Dushan Hakaraia’s unbeaten 99 off 79 balls that included 8 x 4’s and 6 x 6’s. He was involved in an unbeaten 118 run partnership for the 5th wicket to guide Auckland home in the 48th over. For Wellington Jarred Sewell took 3/40 off his 10 overs.
Central Districts vs Northern Districts
Central Districts; 206(Tim Lythe 43, Dave Meiring 38, Te Ahu Davis 4-34) lost to Northern Districts; 210/7(Cameron Merchant 43, Brad Wilson 49, Ian Page 39)
At Lincoln Green CD batted first after ND won the toss and chose to field. Opener and captain Tim Lythe top scored with 43 off 68 balls but the innings never really gained any momentum and CD was all out for 206 in the 46th over. Pace bowler Te Ahu Davis took 4/34 off 9.3 overs. In reply ND won in the 40th over with a bonus point. A second wicket partnership of 106 between Cameron Merchant and Brad Wilson set them on their way and there were useful contribution by Ian Page with 39 and Tamati Clarke with 21 to see them to victory and the bonus point. For CD left arm spinner Andrew Mason was the most successful of the bowlers with 2/24 off his 10 overs.
Points at the end of Round 4
Auckland 16
Northern Districts 13
Otago 10
Canterbury 9
Wellington 4
Central Districts 0
