From Dion Nash's perspective, Auckland's Shell Trophy match against Central Districts which ended at Fitzherbert Park today was in every way a satisfactory outing - though he might have had a sneaking sense of unease about a four-day match concluded

If Dion Nash did nothing more on the first day of the Shell Trophy match between Auckland and Central Districts at Fitzherbert Park than bowl four relatively undistinguished overs for 14 runs, he could have counted the day a personal triumph

The delights of cricket at Pukekura Park are many and varied - there is no ground in the world which so simply unites beauty and utility - but Andre Adams added another with an innings which contributed substantially to the North Island's 28-run over

Wellington completed its metamorphosis from mediocre to outstanding to give themselves a semi-final chance when beating Northern Districts by six wickets at the Basin Reserve today

It's said the truest and toughest test of an international player is that he not only be one but look like one

Roger Twose had become increasingly conscious, even broodingly concerned, that his form for Wellington through this Shell Cup season had not been commensurate with his status as one of the best one-day batsmen in the world

Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson couldn't hide his preoccupation with today's bizarre events at Carisbrook as his team's Shell Trophy match with Auckland, which flared into vibrant life yesterday, faded to end in a drawn

Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming will return to the Wellington team for their Shell Cup match against Auckland at the Basin Reserve tomorrow

Dion Nash and Kyle Mills scored centuries and forged a partnership, hardened by the flames of adversity, which reshaped Auckland's Shell Trophy match against Wellington and gave it balance at the end of its third day today

In a nutshell, the difference between the centuries of Roger Twose and Matthew Bell which helped Wellington to a 46-run first innings lead over Auckland on the second day of their Shell Trophy match at the Basin Reserve today, was that one aims to

The existence of luck as a force in sport, as a measurable quantity and a determinant of success and failure, is a concept which can often provoke warm debate

Black Caps batsman Roger Twose added another case to cricket's I-hate-it-when-that-happens file when he turned out for Wellington on the first day of their Shell Trophy match against Auckland at the Basin Reserve today

Craig Spearman played an innings of unmistakeable quality as Central Districts drew their Shell Trophy match with Wellington at McLean Park today and, in doing so, added another conundrum to one of New Zealand cricket's most enigmatic careers

The swarthy man in the white dress at McLean Park today and the inflatable woman who accompanied him, posing for pictures with the umpires at drinks in the final session, were among the least striking features of the third day of the Shell Trophy

If anthropologists in future generations study cricket for a clue to man's lifestyle as revealed by his pleasures, they might reconstruct the record of the Shell Trophy match between Wellington and Central Districts at McLean Park and find it a

Matthew Bell might do well over the next few days to stay within earshot of a telephone

Jacob Oram has established as his largest wish of many this season that of becoming more accepted by his Central Districts teammates as their leader - for all his youth and the frailty of his experience, as their captain

The sound of falling rain has become an unmusical and unsolicited accompaniment to Central Districts' progress through the Shell Cup this season

Rain forced the abandonment of the fourth round Shell Cup match between Central Districts and Northern Districts at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth today before a ball had been bowled

Wellington approached Christmas brightly situated at the top of one tree but left frayed and neglected at the foot of another after their 48-run Shell Cup loss to Central Districts at the Basin Reserve today