Easy victory for Auckland as Canning and Adams star

After the excitement and tension of the Shell Trophy match between these teams their contest in the opening round of the Shell Cup was an anti-climax. Auckland won by 109 runs as Northern Districts never looked like getting remotely close to the target of 242.

The decisive passage of the game was the last ten overs of the Auckland innings when Tama Canning and Andre Adams led an assault on the previously frugal ND attack. Almost a hundred runs were added in this period to put the game well beyond reach.

ND's reply was dogged by the regular fall of wickets, the biggest partnership being twenty-eight for the ninth wicket between Bailey and Martin. Five Auckland bowlers took two wickets each. All except Canning were accurate and economical, and he owed his team nothing after his decisive performance with the bat. Morgan went wicketless, but was every bit as tight as the rest.

The strong performance of slow left-armer Mark Haslam in both forms of the game should be acknowledged as his opportunities have been few, and far between, since the emergence of Brooke Walker.

Auckland won the toss and chose to bat after rain delayed the start by ten minutes. The opening partnership between Aaron Barnes and Llorne Howell was worth forty-six, achieved at a four an over. Little advantage was taken of the fielding restrictions in the first fifteen overs, even with off-spinner Grant Bradburn opening from the Members' End.

A six and a four came from the first two balls of the ninth over, bowled by Simon Doull, who was still suffering the effects of a painful knock in the groin, sustained as he fell before the over began. Doull collects unusual injuries. Last year he received a finger in the eye during a high five celebration at Taupo.

The dismissal of Barnes, caught at slip by Bradburn off Aldridge, was the first of three in rapid succession. Vincent was Aldridge's second victim, to an outstanding slip catch by Bailey. Yovich caught Howell, moving back quickly from mid-on to make a tricky chance look easy. Howell did not field after aggravating a finger injury.

Dion Nash - playing as a batsman only - and Blair Pocock were the fourth wicket partnership. They made staying together the first priority, knowing that the big hitters to come in the Auckland batting order had to come in late enough to be able to attack freely.

They did their job well, putting on 102. Boundaries were few against a tight ND attack, but the platform was in place when Pocock was dismissed. The pace seemed slow at times, but later events fully justified their approach.

Canning and Adams both faced nineteen deliveries. Canning scored thirty-two including a six and three fours. Adams was thirty-six not out with two sixes and two fours.

Nash played the supporting role, unusually for him. It was an invaluable effort as he first steadied the innings and later gave the strike to his partners unselfishly and efficiently.

Tait (10-1-29-1) and Bradburn (10-0-28-1) both bowled their spells straight through, demonstrating how they have almost 200 Shell Cup wickets between them. Tait's mid-innings spell was especially commendable and would have been match winning more often than not.

So Auckland takes two points to become early joint leaders with Canterbury. ND will believe that it has got its bad game out of its system early on. It will be a major surprise if it does not challenge strongly for a top three place.

ND entertain CD in the Shell Trophy in Taupo from Wednesday, returning to Hamilton for a Shell Cup match next Sunday. Auckland travels south for games against Canterbury.