Another day, another exit for Wellington

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

UNENVIABLE POSITION: Wellington coach Anthony Stuart shows the strain as his team heads to a heavy defeat against Otago. Stuart faces the prospect of being four years in the job without any trophies.

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Pressure is mounting on Cricket Wellington to come up with some answers after the Firebirds dropped out of another competition.

Hard on the heels of their disappointing Twenty20 campaign, Wellington were bundled out of the 50-over race yesterday after their eight-wicket loss to Otago at the Basin Reserve.

Wellington could muster only 169, and Otago strolled home in the 36th over amid some strange tactics by the home side.

Wellington opted not to open with their most attacking bowler – Mark Gillespie – and their preferred choice, Sunnie Chan, bowled inswing without a fine leg.

Gillespie was introduced after 10 overs and took wickets in his first and second overs. However, he was still not fit enough to bowl long spells and Shaun Haig (93 not out) and Craig Cumming (52 not out) were able to avert any crisis with a 117-run stand that sealed victory for Otago.

Senior Wellington players Jeetan Patel and Chris Nevin admit the team's record is a sorry one, with no trophy since the first-class title in 2003-04.

Wellington are currently fifth in this year's first-class competition and if they cannot make the final, the once-proud province will be six years without any silverware.

Patel and Nevin refuse to blame anyone but themselves.

"We've got five players out [Jesse Ryder, Grant Elliott, Andy McKay, James Franklin and Matthew Bell] but it's not really a valid excuse," said Patel, stand-in captain for Bell.

"Maybe depth-wise we are thin, maybe we are not. You are only as strong as your depth. Six years is long enough to find something and I think individuals have to step up, work harder, train smarter and not just be happy to be in the team.

"There is nothing wrong with the game plan – guys just have to work out how to get better."

Wellington coach Anthony Stuart cut a dejected figure on the sideline during the closing stages yesterday. Predictably he is coming under the microscope, because if Wellington fail to win the four-day title, he will be four years in the job without any silverware.

"I think Stuey is still asking the right questions," Patel said.

"I just don't know if the guys are asking themselves the right questions. He has a game plan and we aren't really playing to it."

Patel said he did not have anyone in mind when he spoke of players training harder and smarter. "I just think sometimes we are all guilty of following trends in the one-day game so we are behind the eight ball a bit and we have to make sure players are not just happy to be in the side."

Wellington still had a sniff at the beginning of the day, if they could go win-win against Otago and then Canterbury in Christchurch on Wednesday. But after their batting effort, the game was as good as gone. Nevin top scored with 48 and staggeringly the Firebirds lost their last five wickets for three runs after electing to bat first on a strip that was still very good for batting despite the ball gripping.

"Guys are getting 30s and 40s all the time and it isn't enough to win games," Patel said. "We haven't fielded more than 35 overs in the last couple of games, it's just been poor."

Auckland and Canterbury tied in a thrilling match in Auckland on Saturday, and Northern Districts beat Central Districts, leaving those four sides to contest the semifinals, the order of which will be determined after Wednesday's final round.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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mark   #1   08:36 pm Feb 08 2010

Sums up Wellington sport-losers!

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