Crowe backs Wellington to prevail in Max final (17 December 1998)

17 December 1998

Crowe backs Wellington to prevail in Max final

The Christchurch Press

Cricket Max series promoter Martin Crowe favours Wellington in tomorrow's Shell Super league final against Canterbury at Jade Stadium (Lancaster Park) because of its better defensive record.

Crowe said Wellington had the best record defending of the six teams in the competition and that entitled it to his support in the final.

"It's not just about scoring as many as you can, but also how well you can defend and bowl," Crowe said.

He said Wellington had bowlers like the now fit-again Gavin Larsen, Roger Twose, Heath Davis, Richard Petrie, and Mayu Pasupati who had performed consistently in the competition. It also offered young quick bowlers Robert Kennedy and Carl Bulfin.

Davis, despite having a history of wayward bowling, was accurate in the semi-final against Auckland last Friday with his pacy yorkers the ideal type of bowling for the abbreviated two 10-over-a-side contests.

Larsen's ability to bowl economically is world renowned, while newcomer Pasupati has been a surprise package, taking 14 wickets in the round-robin series at 6.64 with a runs-per-over concession rate of 6.8. Davis's concession rate is 9.23.

Crowe said Twose was a key player with his vast experience at limited-over level gleaned from many seasons with English county Warwickshire and in New Zealand. He had formed a potent batting combination with opener Phil Chandler, Crowe said.

Unlike Canterbury, which had to make a raft of changes to accommodate its incoming and outgoing New Zealand players, Wellington has been able to field a stable side throughout and will field the same team which beat Auckland.

The match is another chance for Wellington to win a major title after several times being the bridesmaid under Bob Carter's coaching in recent years.

A winner's purse of $25,000 is at stake with $12,500 for the beaten finalist.

Team: Roger Twose (captain), Phil Chandler, Tim Boyer, Richard Petrie, Chris Nevin, Mark Jefferson, Jason Wells, Gavin Larsen, Mayu Pasupati, Carl Bulfin, Robert Kennedy, Heath Davis.

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