New Zealand Selection XI v Central Districts at Lincoln, 21 Mar 2001 CricInfo Live Report

New Zealand Selection XI v Central Districts at Lincoln, 21 Mar 2001
Matthew Appleby

New Zealand Selection XI innings: 25 overs, End of innings,
Central Districts, 2000/01 innings: 25 overs, End of match,

CENTRAL TURN TABLES ON SELECTION XI IN ONE-DAYER

Central Districts showed their one-day strength in depth at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University today.

In their final practice match before travelling to the Champions Cup Four Nations One Day Tournament at Perth, their pursuit of 182 to beat a powerful New Zealand Selection Eleven ended as narrow victors. They won by four wickets after being 109/0 before losing their first wicket after 24.5 overs.

The good start that was required to defeat an attack consisting of Test prospects Shayne O'Connor, Kerry Walmsley, Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker came from CD's Jamie How and David Kelly in just 153 balls.

The fifty came up in 54 minutes and 74 balls, with How in particular running aggressively and attacking all round the wicket in a quest to win a seat on the plane to Perth. He made 64 off 84 balls, with seven fours and a straight six off Wiseman. But despite David Kelly (54) holding up an end, CD panicked at the other, but their youngsters, Sanjeeva Silva and Michael Baumgart saw them to their testing target as the evening shadows fell across the square.

Kelly went to fifty off 103 balls, in three hours, with just three fours, to cement his place in the Perth team.

When Gareth West had his team-mate How caught behind one ball bafore the mid-innings drinks break was due, CD, with Oram and Sulzberger to come must have had high hopes of victory.

But Oram mis-pulled West to Wiseman at square leg, when on eight, which made the score 122/2 after 28.3 overs.

Glen Sulzberger continued his run of poor batting form, with four, caught and bowled by hot Test chance Walker. Sulzberger made four and nought in the two day game that preceded this one-dayer at Lincoln.

At this stage the scoring rate had dropped against O'Connor and Walker, with 28/3 added in 12 overs after drinks when O'Connor made Bevan Griggs snick to Gareth Hopkins when on two.

Greg Todd followed, as CD desperately struggled to sustain momentum, lbw to Walker for ten.

An exciting climax ensued, with Kelly holing out after 110 balls and 189 minutes, but Baumgart and Silva saw the Stags home with a seventh wicket stand of 15, leaving just nine balls to spare.

CD'S HOW CAN DO

Chasing 182 to win, Central Districts were 109/1 at the 25 over drinks break in this one-day friendly against a New Zealand Eleven at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University.

Whilst the Selection Eleven's top-scorer was Gareth Hopkins with just 35, CD's Jamie How ( 64 )and David Kelly ( 32 not out ), a student here at Lincoln, have, or look likely to both surpassed that innings. They have added 109 against recent Test bowlers Shayne O'Connor, Kerry Walmsley, Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker.

It took CD bowler Gareth West, guesting for the Selection Eleven in place of James Franklin to dismiss How, one ball before the scheduled break. How was caught by Gareth Hopkins, edging the left-armer when driving at a pitched up delivery.

How survived a big lbw shout by O'Connor when on eight and the score 21, as the left-armer had to work harder than earlier in the week for wickets.

CD wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs believed prior to the reply that a good start was essential and the target was achieveable.

O'Connor's main need was match practice however, as he beat the bat from over the wicket and looked both fit and fluent.

But it was How and Kelly who dominated, going to 50 in 74 balls, then accelerating with quick singles and occasional boundaries. The foundation was there in the afternoon sunshine for a morale-boosting CD win, while the incentive of a Test place was more than enough to keep the aforementioned bowlers honest.

How hit Wiseman for a straight six as the score went to 84 off 18 overs. In the following over CD's Gareth West was brought into the attack against his own team.

How hit West through midwicket four his sixth four to reach fifty off 66 balls, in 88 minutes. Shortly afterwards another milestone passed, with the Stags reaching 100 in 94 minutes and 135 balls.

Despite CD's progress, the attendant TV crews at the sunbathed Bert Sutcliffe Oval may be more interested in the Third Test team than if How and co. can do the unexpected.

STAGS BOWL STARS OUT FOR 181

Halfway through this practice one-day match against a New Zealand Selection Eleven at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Central Districts will be pleased with their bowling form prior to the Champions Cup next week.

The Selection Eleven made 181 all out from 43.3 overs. They struggled with the 10am start, particularly against left-arm opening bowler Ewen Thompson (5/29). He took the first four wickets to fall.

At 25 overs the New Zealand fringe team were 121/6, but Paul Wiseman (29 off 42 balls) helped the tail add 60 runs to give the inexperienced CD team a healthy target.

Brooke Walker went in the 28th over, caught by wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs, to give Greg Todd has second wicket of the morning.

Wiseman then added 25 with Shayne O'Connor, before being caught by Glen Sulzbeger at short midwicket, off the bowling of Sanjeewa Silva.

O'Connor soon went for eight, again hitting out, this time to Brent Hefford running in from long on, off Sulzberger's bowling.

The innings ended as Gareth West, lent to the Selection Eleven in place of James Franklin, on Wellington duty against the tourists, was caught at mid-off by Silva for nine.

This dismissal came off the impressive Thompson, who was the star of the morning. His 5/29 came off 6 overs and two balls.

Selection Eleven coach Ashley Ross believes 181 is sufficient to win. "If their good enough, it's enough," he told CricInfo.

THOMPSON PUTS STRONG SELECTION XI ON BACK FOOT

Central Districts Stags showed they have the fight to represent New Zealand ably during the early stages in this one day friendly match against a strong New Zealand Selection team at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University.

The Selection Eleven batted by arrangement, and quickly lost wickets.

At 25 overs they were 121/6.

Batsmen out were Chris Gaffaney (22), Lou Vincent (six), Jarrod Englefield (nought), Aaron Redmond (30), Shanan Stewart (eight) and Gareth Hopkins (35)

At one stage Ewen Thompson had all four wickets to fall, with the score 55/4. The laft-arm seamer bowled Gaffaney and Englefield and had in-form Vincent caught at short cover by Andrew Schwass. Stewart was snared by Jamie How in the slips.

Redmond and Hopkins, the local Canterbury pair then added 45 in 48 balls, before Greg Todd had Redmond caught behind by Bevan Griggs. Hopkins went 12 runs later, lbw to Schwass.

Brooke Walker (eight) and Paul Wiseman (five) were hanging on at the 25 over drinks break.

Thompson had 4/29 off six overs.

Gareth West of CD had replaced James Franklin in the Selection XI, as the Test bowler has gone to Wellington to play Pakistan tomorrow.

Before flying to Perth next week for the Champions Cup tournament, between the winners of the one day competitions in Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa, CD coach Dipak Patel has used this game to test the fitness and form of his squad.

The twelve to travel will be announced after the game here today.