Canning magic steers Auckland to victory from hopeless situation

Coming on the back of two consecutive wins in the Shell Cup for the 2000/2001 season including a previous win over Auckland at Eden Park, the Otago Volts hopes were riding high when their fifth round match in the series against Auckland started at Molyneux Park today.

Winning the toss and electing to bat the Otago team was- Lee Germon(Captain), Craig Cumming, Martyn Croy, Simon Forde, Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming, Craig Pryor, Kerry Walmsley, Karl O'Dowda (12th man)

Auckland - Blair Pocock(Captain), Llorne Howell, Lou Vincent, Mark Haslam, Dion Nash, Kyle Mills, Richard Morgan, Andre Adams, Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, John Aiken, Chris Drum (12th man).

State Otago Volts started in brisk fashion with Andrew Hore leading the way with a workmanlike 37. Craig Cumming however was the anchor and proceeded to work the ball around particularly in the early stages while others fell around him. He made 66.

The exception was Chris Gaffaney who was unexpectedly out for 37 and Craig Pryor at the end of the innings who placed the ball well and smashed Tama Canning in his last over for two sixes and a four. Pryor was 55 not out and he saw Otago through to a respectable but not unbeatable 260. 18 leg byes featured in the Otago total.

Bowling for Auckland Canning with 4/60 from his allotted 10 was the main destroyer while Mark Haslam had only 37 runs hit off his maximum spell.

Auckland began their run chase for the 261 for victory with a four off the first ball of Kerry Walmsley and things looked a little ominous but the loss of Llorne Howell at four, Aaron Barnes at 29, Blair Pocock at 33 set the Northerners back on their heels. Enter John Aiken and Dion Nash who put on 67 for the fourth wicket before Nash was run out for 35. Aiken was bowled Walmsley for 60 and Nash run out for 35.

And then came Tama Canning who makes a habit of winning matches for Auckland. He began cautiously but then some strong hitting took over and he and Richard Morgan put on 121 for the eighth wicket.

Morgan was out for 44 but Canning continued on and got Auckland to the situation where they needed eight from the final over. A four, a two, a single, a dot ball, and so one run needed off two balls by them. A nick for two to fine leg and the game was theirs by 2 wickets with a ball to spare. No praise could be too high for Canning who finished 92 not out. Surely a New Zealand selection beckons in the future.

For Otago Simon Forde with 1/18 from 7 overs was very economic while Warren McSkimming 3/37 from 10 overs was also good. Walmsley, Cumming and McCullum all went for over 50 but in good batting conditions it was probably to be expected.

A good win to Auckland in a thrilling situation and perhaps the highlight of the game being Cannings batting and the Otago Volts ground fielding.