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Mark Hastings was hauled from the middle of a cricket match at Lincoln University to make a telling contribution for Canterbury in its Shell Cup victory over Auckland.

Hastings was preparing to bowl for the Canterbury Emerging Players' team against the New Zealand Under-19 side when word reached him that he was wanted urgently at Jade Stadium on Saturday.

Opening batsman Llorne Howell had called in mid-morning with a back injury, sustained at a light training session the previous day. It had been decided the injury would prevent him from taking a full part in the game.

Although Canterbury took a 13-man squad into the game it was heavy on bowlers and selection panel convener Brian McKechnie felt all-rounder Hastings, unavailable recently after illness, was the best option.

Hastings was immediately involved in the match against Auckland, taking a catch first ball to dismiss captain Blair Pocock. Later he opened the innings, striking an unbeaten 46 from 87 balls with five fours and a six.

Hastings, who has opened for Canterbury successfully earlier this season at Cricket Max and Shell Cup level, is sharp in the field and offers another medium-pace bowling variation.

``He has never let us down when called in before so he was who I thought we should go for,'' McKechnie said.

Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald said the team has never had such a light warm-up session before a big match.

He wondered if anyone else would break down, with several players just recovering from or nursing minor injuries.