Bowlers set up Auckland for bonus point

Three wickets in one over by Heath Davis, seven wides in another from Gareth Shaw and five catches behind the stumps for Lou Vincent were the stand-out features of Auckland's fifth-round State Shield victory over Otago at Eden Park Outer Oval.

The Otago batsmen could not live with the accuracy of Davis and the waywardness of Shaw, whose 13-ball third over also included the wicket of the dangerous Mohammad Wasim for two and, with the first ball of his next, he had Craig Cumming flashing above his shoulders to give Vincent first of his catches.

If Otago had plans to recover from that early setback, Davis' eighth over brought those plans to a shuddering halt. Marcel McKenzie (three), Peter McGlashan (0) and Jeff Wilson (0) departed in quick succession, the first two in consecutive balls. Otago 43 for six and not even heavy rain through the middle of the afternoon could save them.

When the speedsters had finished doing their worst, Tama Canning went about his work in a most quiet fashion that left him with the rewarding figures of three for 20 off his 10 overs.

Only Robbie Lawson stood firm but his struggle to 26 from 75 balls reflected the Otago innings. Davis ended with three for 35 from 10, only a tired 11-run last over damaging what had been a superb return. Shaw, despite his early indiscretions, ended with three for 24 from nine.

Rain couldn't be help have its say. Mid-afternoon showers earlier in the Otago innings saw the match reduced to 48 overs each side. Otago, however, had succumbed inside 43 overs for 121. The Duckworth-Lewis system was applied and the home side required just 119 to win and needed to get it in just over 38 overs to pick up the bonus point.

Auckland, on the back of an uncharacteristically studious unbeaten 66 by Llorne Howell, made relatively comfortable work of the target despite some lively moments from Shayne O'Connor, who conceded just 24 from his 10 overs but could not penetrate the Auckland defence. The Otago reward for trying was four wickets but Auckland never really looked in danger.

They reached 121, tying Otago's score, at the end of the 35th over before a hurried discussion between the umpires resulted in the match being declared won, when they realised Auckland had surpassed the target earlier in the over. A strange ending but one that should leave Auckland well satisfied.