Low Otago score sets Auckland up for easy win

The first rain-free day in Central Otago for a fortnight did not prove to be a happy omen for Otago who lost their State Shield match with Auckland at Molyneux Park in Alexandra today by seven wickets.

The powerful Auckland side with eight former or current New Zealand representatives carried too many guns for Otago who never gave up trying but at the end of the day had to bow to a superior opponent.

Auckland won the toss on a still sunny morning and asked Otago to bat on a pitch which had achieved a deserved reputation around the country as being full of runs.

This game proved to be no exception but from an Otago perspective they trudged to an inadequate 206/7 with only new captain Craig Cumming (70), Andrew Hore (39) and Robbie Lawson (37) being anywhere near the mark.

The Otago batsmen have tended to get bogged down this season and the number of balls not being scored from must be a concern to them and their coach Glenn Turner.

The Auckland bowling was straight in the main but perhaps New Zealand representatives Dion Nash and Andre Adams with 45 and 47 off their 10 overs respectively would have liked to have been a little more miserly than their figures suggest. Mark Haslam with two for 30 from 10 overs, Chris Drum none for 31 from 10 and Tama Canning two for 36 from eight completed a satisfactory quintet for them.

A major concern for New Zealand occurred when Kyle Mills only bowled one over and then went from the field with apparently an injured shoulder.

Auckland began its chase with New Zealand openers Mark Richardson and Matthew Horne in fine form and they put on 104 for the first wicket before Richardson was out for a classy 47. Horne continued on in similar fashion with the scorebook totalling 144 when he was dismissed for 60.

Both he and Horne had set strong foundations for an Auckland victory and it was over to the remainder of their batting lineup to continue the goodwork. Continue it they did through the fine innings of Aaron Barnes with 55 and Mills with 23 not out.

They achieved their target with five overs and seven wickets to spare and looked very competent in doing it.

The Otago bowling saw no-one really caned but they would have liked another 70 or 80 runs to bowl to. Kerry Walmsley had a very good none for 23 from eight overs, David Sewell none for 32 from seven, Craig Cumming one for 35 from nine which, when put alongside his 70 with the bat, represented an excellent debut as captain.

Auckland deserved its win and Otago know they will have to increase their run rate dramatically if they are to have any success in this competition.