Weather denies CD of chance for vital points

A game that started in very warm and bright sunshine ended with abandonement at Carisbrook today with two State Shield points being awarded to both Otago and Central Districts.

Otago won the toss and batted on a very good pitch but could only muster 161 - another very disappointing batting performance by them. Only Brendon McCullum with 50 - his maiden half-century at either international or domestic one-day level - made any impact on the Central bowlers who were certainly not unplayable. McCullum faced 59 balls and hit 30 of his runs from five sixes, amazingly with no fours in accompaniment.

He was fifth batsman out as a middle and lower-order slump, which saw seven wickets fall for 40 runs, cost Otago dearly.

Robbie Lawson faced 79 balls for his 21 runs but Otago struggled to make any other impact on the scoreboard.

Brent Hefford with three for 44, Jacob Oram (two for 18), Lance Hamilton (two for 35) and Michael Mason (one for 21) from seven overs were the wicket-takers with two run outs completing the picture of Otago dismissals.

Under these conditions this target was almost a certainity for Central and at 65 without loss this appeared to be so. The 65 runs were on the board in the 10th over, at which stage Jesse Ryder was caught for 21 from Nathan Morland's bowling.

Off the last ball of the 11th over, Craig Spearman's innings of 45 off 31 balls was ended by James McMillan. The two wicket-takers only bowled an over each while Kerry Walmsley, with 31 taken from his four overs, and Shayne O'Connor (30 from his five) on the receiving end of the CD opening assault.

But the rain had other ideas and, after two stops for 10 minutes apiece, a heavier shower sent all from the field at 4.51pm - they did not return and the umpires officially abandoned the game at 6.27pm as it was still raining.

Central Districts looked by far the better team and were unlucky to be robbed by the weather. But with two quick wickets lost by them just before the rain came for the third time, a smidgeon of doubt existed as to the probable final outcome. However, such discussion is only academic of course - two points to each team.