Cricket News

As New Zealand's CLEAR Black Caps search for a winning formula in the One-Day International programme they can take little comfort from the happenings in the Shell Cup

Central Districts, perennial whipping boys in domestic cricket over the years, turned giant killers at Jade Stadium in Christchurch today and won a famous victory over Canterbury to claim the Shell Cup for only the second time in their history

Canterbury was forced to a third final tomorrow in its bid to retain the Shell Cup this summer after Central Districts took a 45-run win off it tonight at Jade Stadium in Christchurch

Auckland, who just missed setting an abysmally low record for a Shell Cup one-day game when they were humiliated by Central Districts on Tuesday, looked like world champions when they set a record score of 318 to five to take them to a 131-run

The glory boys from the capital could not halt Canterbury's heroic Shell Cup run today at Jade Stadium

The State Insurance Central Stags certainly roared at Queen's Park, Invercargill today when they comprehensively defeated the State Otago Volts by seven wickets in their Shell Cup contest

Nathan Astle, with a fine 121, saw Canterbury through a potentially tricky South Island derby at Jade Stadium today

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

Auckland may have the big cricketing names, but Central Districts had the spirit - and three heroic new chums - to bring them their astounding Shell Cup eight-wicket win over Auckland at Eden Park this afternoon

Any part of the cricketing world faced with a water shortage has an easy solution to its problems

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

Canterbury continued their momentum towards a Shell Cup semi-final place at Whangarei today

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

Canterbury's seven wicket winning margin was just what the doctor prescribed in their Shell Cup match against Central Districts at Timaru today

Northern Districts dispelled any dangers of electing to bat first on a Centennial Park pitch showing a slight tinge of green, by making an assured 242/6 from their 50 overs

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

Auckland and Canterbury between them prepared to send five members of the New Zealand one-day squad out on to Eden Park in a sixth round Shell Cup match today to give them the opportunity to make the transition from test mode

After the drama and pantomime of the Northern Districts v Wellington game on Friday, Blake Park in Mount Maunganui witnessed an altogether more sedate affair today

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

Northern Districts won an extraordinary and sometimes bizarre match by three Duckworth/Lewis runs at Blake Park, Mount Maunganui, leaving Wellington angry and disappointed at the end