Canterbury conjure remarkable turnaround to claim top spot

The glory boys from the capital could not halt Canterbury's heroic Shell Cup run today at Jade Stadium. The north-south encounter turned out to be a must-win affair for both teams, but Canterbury were too good in the end. Wellington made 193 all out, losing their last nine wickets for 89 runs, in reply to Canterbury's 207/7.

"It's probably one of the most satisfying wins I've ever been involved in," commented ecstatic Canterbury skipper, Gary Stead.

"It was do or die for us and the same for Wellington." Indeed it was, as Canterbury now play midweek in the first final and return to Jade Stadium for the second, in front of what will be a large red and black crowd next Saturday.

It was the spectators that delighted Stead particularly. He called the cheering Cantabrians "fantastic," adding "it was great to see a Canterbury crowd back again. They certainly gave us a lift when we needed it."

After the easy wins in the other rounds for Central Districts and Auckland, this was a thriller, with superb all-round efforts from both teams producing an unexpected knife-edge close ending.

Stead, so often the Canterbury hero himself this season continued, "it's hard to put into words at the moment how we're feeling. But we're obviously elated."

Canterbury reached the final stages yet again, while Wellington only have a chance, under belligerent coach Vaughn Johnson, for their first Trophy triumph since 1989/90, two years before Canterbury began their run of seven Cups in nine years.

Departing Canterbury coach, Garry MacDonald, will now have the chance to achieve a hat-trick of Cup wins to go with a 1997/98 Trophy success in his first year in charge.

It was not until the penultimate over of the day, the 99th of 100, that Canterbury looked certain to win. Indeed for much of the match they had struggled, going to 106/6 in the 30th over, before a characteristic Chris Harris innings of 60 not out forced Canterbury above the 200 mark. The runs he added with Carl Anderson and Shane Bond, who both made Cup career bests, proved crucial. The 55 added off the last six overs with the fast bowling policeman was the key to Canterbury victory in the end. Stead recognised this phase as "really crucial for us." It not only lifted the team spirit, but also the crowd's to encourage the home team to an outstanding fielding display.

Wellington, at 104/1 after 26 overs were cruising, but after the 81 run partnership between Chris Nevin (64) and Stephen Fleming (37) was broken by Canterbury's key all-rounder Chris Harris, Canterbury sensed a comeback. They rushed through the overs, and before Wellington knew it the run rate was too high.

Harris, as well as making his 12th Cup fifty, took a blinder to catch a Twose cut, ran out Wells with a direct hit and took 1-37 off ten. Carl Anderson's 2-24 was also highly praised by the delighted Stead.

He concluded, "it enabled us to put the screws on and ram it home to the end."