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..::ERIC::..
Guest
Just got back from Wellington, what a game.
Lost all respect for Yovich, what a dirty cheat. He stepped over the rope and battered the ball back into play. It should have been 6 since he was standing out (and he knew it). Next ball, Nevin trys it again and Yovich catches him, out for 90.
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Lost all respect for Yovich, what a dirty cheat. He stepped over the rope and battered the ball back into play. It should have been 6 since he was standing out (and he knew it). Next ball, Nevin trys it again and Yovich catches him, out for 90.
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-NZ cricket27 Dec 2004
Weather shines, and players respond in opening round
Warm weather finally made its welcome appearance on the opening day of the State Shield competition and it was the inspiration for some good first-up scoring in Wellington and Alexandra.
However, the defending champions Central Districts at Palmerston North, had to contest with a pitch at Fitzherbert Park that was a little more lively than was comfortable for both sides.
Auckland's batsmen had first use of it after CD captain Glen Sulzberger won the toss and put the visitors in. They were quickly in trouble, and they never really recovered when dismissed for 173. That was largely courtesy of some fine bowling by Michael Mason who took four for 23 from his 9.5 overs, just to remind the New Zealand selectors that he was still there and abouts as one of the better performers on the local scene.
A watchful Tama Canning scored 34 while a more attacking Andre Adams also hit 34. Earlier, something of a recovery from a poor start was made by Matt Horne (18) and Rob Nicol (24).
Central Districts also struggled to get underway. Jamie How was trapped leg before wicket by Andre Adams for 14 and Craig Spearman was caught behind from Kerry Walmsley for 20. Geoff Barnett scored 22 before being dismissed at 72 to be followed by Jarrod Englefield for nine. However, that set the scene for the match-winning fifth-wicket stand between Sulzberger, who scored 66 not out off 87 balls, and Bevan Griggs, with 27 off 44 to see CD home with three overs to spare before they missed out on the bonus point.
At Alexandra, Canterbury captain Craig McMillan called correctly and asked the home team to have a bat first on what was to be a big day out for him. When the score was 87 without loss with Chris Gaffaney and Craig Cumming in full flight, he must have wondered at his decision. But at that point Hadyn Shaw achieved the breakthrough when Cumming was dismissed for 39.
McMillan himself removed Gaffaney after he had scored his ninth one-day half-century for Otago with his 55 coming from 63 balls. His departure was in the midst of a top-order collapse as Otago slumped to 139 for four wickets.
Canterbury's bowlers who were a little free with their wides and no-balls, sending down 11 of them, didn't have to be on their best touch to polish off the Otago innings, as Otago managed no fewer than five run-outs during their innings. Gareth Hopkins was one who succumbed in that fashion after an attacking 25 off 23 balls when batting at No 3.
Jeff Wilson hit 22 off 20 balls before he was caught from McMillan's bowling and while most of the middle-order got started, they were unable to go on, and a partial recovery to a competitive score of 247 by the time the side was dismissed in the last over was largely the result of Brad Scott's 30 scored at No 10 in the order.
McMillan ended the innings with two for 20 from his seven overs.
Canterbury's response was a sound one with Michael Papps and Tim McIntosh making a sound start when putting on 59 for the first wicket. There was a slight hiccup when Peter Fulton went one run later. But McMillan joined McIntosh to add 123 for the third wicket, a stand which saw McMillan battle through the early stages of his innings with some unconvincing strokeplay. But once he had his measure he was as audacious as ever and managed his sixth domestic one-day century. He ended on 113 not out, scored off 100 balls with three sixes and 10 fours.
McIntosh had earlier been dismissed for 74 off 113 balls, a welcome show of form after a slow start in the four-day version of the game. There was still some fight in the Otago bowling and going into the last two overs, 16 runs were still required by Canterbury. However, the batsmen took 12 from the over which was bowled by Jeff Wilson, and off the first ball of the last over, Paul Wiseman hit a boundary to secure the victory.
Northern Districts made a poor start at the Basin Reserve with BJ Watling out to the second ball he faced from Ash Turner. Llorne Howell followed soon after but Daniel Flynn marked his debut by helping recover the situation to 84, scoring 27 before he was third dismissed.
That left the senior hands in the batting order, captain James Marshall and Matt Hart to put some substance into the innings with Marshall scoring 67 off 73 balls. Once he was dismissed by Jayesh Patel at 129, Hart carried on until 225 when he too was dismissed for 67, but off 85 balls.
Joseph Yovich scored 51, his fourth one-day half-century, before being dismissed in the last over with ND having reach 262. Patel had a fine return with two for 37 from his 10 overs.
Despite the problems in the ND innings, they still had the runs on the board and they proved invaluable as the Wellington top-order struggled for runs. Chris Nevin shone like a beacon amid the failures. His 90 kept the side in with a chance, although it wasn't until Luke Woodcock, batting at No 7, threw out an anchor that some more substance was provided. He attacked well to score 71 off 91 balls, but was unable to hold onto partners long enough to set up the win.
When he was the ninth man dismissed, the ball after hitting Mark Orchard for a six, and then being caught by Llorne Howell on the boundary as he attempted to repeat the shot, the end was nigh. It came off the next ball as Jayesh Patel was bowled by Orchard to give his side the win by 11 runs and to end with four for 47. Ian Butler took three for 42 in his nine overs.[/b]