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New Zealand: Injured Hastings in doubt for Max final

The Christchurch Press
16 December 1998



All-rounder Mark Hastings has only about a 10 per cent chance of playing in Friday night's Cricket Max final, says Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald.

Hastings tore a groin muscle in the semi-final against Central Districts last Sunday and MacDonald is resigning himself to being without the all-rounder, who has played some valuable innings for the side.

In the semi-final he scored 46 off 23 balls, and in a pool game against the same side, scored 57 off 26 balls as an opener.

``Mark can hardly move at the moment so his chances of playing are not great,'' said MacDonald.

He is undecided yet on the make-up of the team for the final but said it will depend on tactics.

He said Wellington is a well-organised unit. ``The two sides that have made the final are the two sides that have had the best organised bowling attacks. That's the secret to this game. I've been amazed at the lack of plans of some of the bowling attacks.

``Wellington are very organised with their bowling and I would like to think that we have been as well. That's been the secret really.

``Their attack would have to be the best on paper in the country at the moment.''

MacDonald said it did not necessarily translate that two good bowling attacks would produce a low-scoring final.

``Both teams have got some game-breaking batsmen as well. Roger Twose obviously is a menace and has been to us for ages.

``Richard Petrie and one or two others can hit the ball as well.

``We're down a bit on batsmen now with the injury to Mark Hastings, but it's a bonus having Chris Harris back.''

MacDonald said Canterbury's batsmen had also played a large part in it reaching the final.

``Our five and six batsmen this year have hardly had a hit.

``Rather than relying on the lower-order guys, the batsmen have been getting the runs.''


Source: The Christchurch Press
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