Cairns joins select 100 club (19 January 1999)

19 January 1999

Cairns joins select 100 club

The Christchurch Press

Canterbury cricket all-rounder Chris Cairns joins a select club when he plays his 100th one-day match for New Zealand at Jade Stadium today and wants to mark it with a noteworthy performance.

Cairns becomes just the ninth New Zealander to have played 100 one-day matches and he might have overlooked the milestone, but for being reminded by team-mates about it.

"I suppose I've been around for a while, I'm feeling a bit older out there now," said 28-year-old Cairns.

Cairns said it was significant to be playing the 100th match on his home ground where he has produced some match-winning performances and he hoped to replicate that today.

"It's always good playing in front of that home Canterbury crowd."

Cairns saw no reason why New Zealand could not win the match and square the BNZ series 2-2.

"The toss was all-important at Eden Park deciding the game and we had all those run outs at Napier."

Cairns was satisfied with how his all-round game is coming together after his bowling had been off-song at times during the tests. "I may have been a bit short of bowling and the rhythm was missing."

Cairns has produced two innings of 44 in his last two one-day outings, but is conscious he has lost patience and got out when there was the need to bat on.

While playing his 100th match, Cairns is also closing in on 100 one-day wickets. He is on 92 and this series passed father Lance who has 89 one-day wickets to his name.

The other players to have made 100 appearances or more for New Zealand are: John Wright 149, Martin Crowe 143, Ken Rutherford 121, Chris Harris 117, Ewen Chatfield 115, Richard Hadlee 115, and Gavin Larsen 105. The figures pale into comparison with India's most experienced limited-overs exponents, captain Mohammad Azharuddin, having played over 300 games, and Sachin Tendulklar with more than 200.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)