11th Match: Canterbury v Wellington at Christchurch, 5 Jan 2003 CricInfo Live Report

11th Match: Canterbury v Wellington at Christchurch, 5 Jan 2003
Lynn McConnell

Wellington innings: Drinks, End of game,

BELL AND JONES STAND GIVES WELLINGTON IMPETUS FOR WIN
Matthew Bell and Richard Jones shared a 99-run stand for the second wicket to ensure Wellington a safe road to victory over Canterbury in their State Shield match at Hagley Oval today.

Wellington were given an accelerated start by Chris Nevin and Bell as they scored 60 in 11.1 overs. But while Nevin was out at that stage for 34 off 39 balls, Jones joined Bell in a fine stand.

Chris Harris finally broke their stand when bowling Jones for 42 scored off 68 balls when the score was 159. Wellington still sensed a chance of taking a bonus point by reaching Canterbury's 188 for nine wickets before the end of the 40th over so they promoted Paul Hitchcock to No 4 in the order.

Bell helped him add another 18 runs before he was out bowled by Chris Martin for 80, scored off 111 balls.

Matthew Walker then joined Hitchcock and they scored the 12 runs required with seven balls to spare before the bonus point became void.

Martin finished with two for 32 while Harris was the only other wicket-taker with one for 30.

WELLINGTON WELL ON TARGET IN CHASE AGAINST CANTERBURY
Canterbury struggled to reach 188 for nine wickets when batting first at Wellington's request in their State Shield match at Hagley Oval today but Wellington were making short work of their chase.

By the time drinks were taken after 18 overs, Wellington were 78 for one wicket.

It took a demonstration of fast bowler Shane Bond's hitting ability to extricate Canterbury from a sticky position to at least offer a competitive target for Wellington.

Canterbury had made a good start when scoring 69 in 18 overs with Michael Papps and Shanan Stewart scoring 33 runs each. The ease with which they scored 50, off 87 balls suggested batting riches in the pitch. But it didn't turn out that way.

At the 20-over mark, Canterbury were 76 for two wickets, but by the time Jarrod Englefield was out for six after 41.5 overs, only 54 runs had been added through the 21.5 overs.

Chris Cairns, who came into the side for the first time this season, batted at No 4 and scored 24 off 45 balls.

Fortunately for Canterbury, Bond was in attacking mood and his 40 off 30 balls included two sixes and two fours. He was out with seven balls of the innings left with the score on 179.

Wellington's bowlers were generally sound, with Ash Turner especially economical while sending down 10 overs for only 20 runs.

But the decisive performer for Wellington was Mark Gillespie who bowled nine overs and had three wickets for 21, but they were three key wickets of Papps, Cairns and Gary Stead.

Wellington had a great start with 60 runs put on for the first wicket off 11.1 overs before Chris Nevin was dismissed for 33 off 39 balls.

He hit seven fours in his innings while Matthew Bell was a little more conservative, although he was 29 not out off 48 balls at the break. Richard Jones was 10 not out.