Oram leads from the front in remarkable win over Wellington

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.

He hoped to be able to show by trial the proper instincts to guide them to victories and by performance the ability to lead them by example. He wanted, by effort, sacrifice and achievement, to win their confidence, their approbation and their respect.

Today, in fading light on the sunburnt oval at Waikanae Park, he took a huge stride towards that desired acceptance when he completed a classic captain's innings, reached an unbeaten half century on the last ball of the match and helped Central to a one wicket Shell Cup win over Wellington.

With No 11 Michael Mason as his stalwart lieutenant, Oram put on 47 for Central's last wicket after they had been pitched to the brink of defeat - to 112-8 after being 106-3 - and with a four from the first ball of the 49th over, reached his 50 and surpassed their victory total.

Wellington had made 180 in 48.4 overs, batting first after winning the toss, and Central, in pursuit of that total had managed to scale the heights and plumb the depths of emotion before winning in the last light of the failing day.

Oram had stayed at the crease for 101 minutes, from the 27th to the 49th over, had closely witnessed the spectacular middle order collapse that had almost cost Central victory then, with his last two partners including the erstwhile Mason had seen his team home.

Central had been 106-3 in the 27th over and closing on victory with an irresistible purpose when its innings stalled, seized by almost fatal convulsions. Mark Douglas was caught from the bowling of Mark Jefferson, Glen Sulzberger and Greg Todd were run out in spectacular fashion - Todd without facing a ball - Ben Smith and Andrew Schwass fell victim to Paul Hitchcock who managed, almost singlehandidly, to turn the match in Wellington's favour.

Three wickets fell at 106 - those of Douglas, Smith and Sulzberger - another at 110 and Schwass at 112 - in total five wickets for six runs in 27 balls, the first three in the space of two overs.

Wellington was suddenly jubilant, filled with the enthusiasm which had previously fired Central. Both teams had been wrestling with their Shell Cup destiny in this match, needing to win to keep alive their semifinal chances, and that heady fuel of desperation had helped make the match the extraordinary spectacle it became.

It needed a remarkable figure to sway the momentum of the match back towards Central, to wrest back from Wellington control of the game which had apparently fallen into that hands. Oram was that man but no less Mason who had already contributed by taking 4-27 in Wellington's innings.

"To be honest I haven't been in the position too often of batting at the death to win the match," Oram said. "It's because I'm batting No 6 this year rather than No 3 or 4 where I usually bat. I've dropped down the order because I'm bowling more and that's why I was in that position today. It was very satisfying.

"I just wanted to do my bit. As captain I felt it was my particular duty.

"I have to say I've struggled with the captaincy a bit over the past two seasons. I've found it difficult to work on aspects of my own game and try to concentrate on the captaincy as well.

"But it was my aim this year to try to make more of the captaincy. I've been hoping that in time the team will respect me more as a captain. I try to make decisions on instinct and I think the guys expect that now and trust me. But I also want to lead by example and that's why this was satisfying today."

Oram had his own sense of faith in his two partners - in West and Mason who are, as he is, men of the Manawatu. Both can bat with some ability, both have resilience and confidence in themselves.

"In fact, Michael Mason was doing it easier than I was," Oram said. "He was loving it. He had a big smile on his face the whole way through.

"I was a bit worried when he played out that maiden from Carl Bulfin but we got there. I always knew we had plenty of overs to get the riuns and I felt if someone could just stick there with me we'd get them.

"I wasn't really nervous till we got close to the target. When it got down to about 12 or 10 I began to think about it but Michael wasn't worried at any stage.

"I'm just very happy because we always seem to come out second in these games. I hope it just builds a bit of character and confidence in the team now."

Wellington's total of 180 was founded on the performances of players late in their order, not the more famous names at the top of the innings. They had fallen to 95-6 with Matthew Bell, Chris Nevin, Stephen Fleming and Roger Twose back in the pavilion before Jason Wells, with his third Cup half century of the season, made their total more substantial.

Fleming made 18, Twose 10 and the new international James Franklin 10 in 34 minutes before Wells and Mark Jefferson, who made 32, bolstered the innings.

Central were in early trouble after the loss of Matt Sinclair without scoring when they were 9 and Craig Spearman for 7 when they were 16. But they gradually overtook Wellington's scoring rate with contributions of 28 from David Kelly, 29 from Ben Smith and 27 from Mark Douglas, who as Central's wicketkeeper had a hand in four of the first five Wellington dismisssals today.

Kelly was out when Central were 73 and Douglas' loss heralded the collapse of the Central middle order. It was then left to Oram and Mason, who had claimed the wickets of Bell, Nevin, Jefferson and Andrew Penn (20) in 8.4 overs, to see them home.

Mason was dropped by Bulfin early in his innings and there were other alarums for the last Central pair but their tenacity has lifted Central's spirits and their win raises them to second place on the Cup table.