Victorious Auckland, Wgton derail Cantabs
Canterbury’s hopes of emulating the Auckland team of 1938-39 by winning three consecutive Plunket Shield titles is essentially over after an intriguing final-day run chase against Wellington petered out depressingly short.
Needing 184 from 45 overs – a realistic target despite the pitch still providing assistance for the quicks – Canterbury were dismissed for 129 to complete a lowscoring game where bowlers dominated.
Canterbury’s bid to defend back-to-back titles now relies on unbeaten Auckland, who beat Otago by 10 runs in Dunedin on Friday – collapsing during their remaining games against Wellington and the Central Stags, an unlikely scenario.
Comprehensive wins over the Northern Knights in Christchurch and then Wellington at the Basin Reserve are also necessary for a Canterbury side that was left to rue a record 125-run ninth-wicket between centurion Scott Borthwick and Iain McPeake.
That partnership between the English import and two-game tailender enabled Wellington to recover from a parlous 101-8 after more than a day was lost to rain – they provided vital runs and crucially ate up overs doing so.
Consequently Canterbury declared their first innings 47 runs in arrears in an attempt to engineer an outright victory and it was a distinct possibility when Wellington lost 10 second innings wickets for 63 – pace bowler Hamish Bennett’s 5-54 meant the hosts had to score at 4 runs per over to bridge the gap on Auckland.
However, 51 from former New Zealand opener and Canterbury rep Papps proved the highest score of the final day as strokemakers found accumulation difficult.
Canterbury coach Gary Stead lamented his side’s inability to construct a match-winning partnership, the 32 added for the second wicket by Michael Davidson and Peter Fulton was the best effort while South African-born aspiring Black Cap Chad Bowes top scored with 34.
While Bowes was at the crease Canterbury were still in the reckoning but once he was removed by former Black Caps spinner Jeetan Patel – who had the leading figures of 3-20 – Wellington were on track to improve to second place, 23 points adrift of Auckland.
‘‘We just didn’t get a partnership together of any substance, that was probably the key difference in the chase,’’ said Stead after the 54-run defeat.
‘‘The way we bowled (Friday morning) and caught was exceptional. Hamish bowled beautifully.
‘‘We couldn’t ask for much more there but from a batting point of view we didn’t get a partnership established.’’
Stead said while a pitch that was under covers for the duration of day two, he felt the Canterbury batting line-up also succumbed to scoreboard pressure.
‘‘Bowlers were always in the game if they were in the right areas. They’re also niggly little chases and that (pressure) got to us.’’
Stead did not quite concede defeat despite Canterbury is now third with 91 points, though he anticipated Auckland would claim the title for the first time since 2008-09.
‘‘It’s highly unlikely (Canterbury can defend their title) now given where the points are. Auckland will still pick up bonus points as they go along,’’ he said, before vowing Canterbury would continue their adventurous approach against the Knights at Hagley Oval from Wednesday.
‘‘We’ll still be playing every game to win it because that’s the style of cricket we want to play.’’
In Dunedin the Aces won by 10 runs as Otago’s quest for 218 fell just short at University Oval after spinner and proficient batsman Mark Craig was unable to return to the crease after a Lachie Ferguson beam ball fractured the New Zealand test player’s right hand.