International scalp would sit well on top table tonight

Wellington's Shell Trophy champions will go into the last day of their three-day tour match with Pakistan possibly on the verge of providing an international scalp for their past players to savour tomorrow night.

Wellington, New Zealand's oldest provincial cricket association, is celebrating 125 years of existence this weekend and many famous names from the past have gathered in the Capital for the occasion.

While the Shell Trophy would probably suffice as a suitable prize to be on display during the jubilee dinner tomorrow night, the Pakistan victory would cap the evening.

Much needs to happen before that can happen but as Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson said at the end of play tonight, "We don't lose from here, and there is only one team who can win."

Johnson was pleased with the way his experienced batsmen kicked on this morning and while there was a lack of intensity during the middle session it had been an invaluable experience for a player making his debut in Rhys Morgan.

Then Chris Nevin chimed in at No 7 with a fine attacking innings which sent all the momentum in Wellington's direction.

"He is proving very good for us coming in at No 6 or No 7 and playing important little innings," he said.

But if his bowlers can create the sort of pressure they did on the first morning and get the Pakistanis on the run anything could happen.

"The odds are on Pakistan trying to bat out all day. That's what this game is for, practice for a Test match.

"But I am pleased with the way the first two days have gone for us," he said.

His leading contributor with the bat, Selwyn Blackmore, who scored 74, is very much your typical New Zealand provincial player. He has to take annual leave in order to play and said his supportive employers at Telstra Saturn have already allowed him time beyond his allocation to play this game.

He played in only seven of Wellington's 10 Trophy games, part of that resulting from a broken finger he suffered. But he scored 352 runs at 32.0 and with his innings today has lifted his aggregate to 426 runs at an average of 35.5.

"One disappointment is that I haven't scored a century in any form of cricket this year. I have had average club form and if you asked me I couldn't tell you why. I've been trying hard in club cricket but I keep getting knocked over," he said.

He was thinking that the elusive century might be possible today but admitted he played a lazy shot to edge behind off Mohammad Akram.

However, he withstood the probing of the international quality attack, and battled through some tough spin offered up by Mushtaq Ahmed.

"It was hard. He tried to bowl his googly a lot," he said.

But countering him by covering the balls offered outside off stump had proven productive and Blackmore had been confident enough to pick up three sixes from Mushtaq during his innings.

He described his more attacking freedom as the result of maturing and not being so worried about getting out.

"If it was floated up I was definitely going to have a crack at it," he said.

Blackmore did and set up a chance for his side to come out of the game with reputations enhanced and perhaps just some extra bite to the jubilee dinner tomorrow night.