Knights' batting lets them down

BY AARON GOILE

The Northern Knights' batting was exposed under pressure and they are no longer unbeaten in this season's Plunket Shield competition.

The competition leaders suffered a 38-run loss to Wellington at Hamilton's Seddon Park yesterday.

Chasing 287 to win the four-day match, the Knights began positively, but a steady procession of wickets stalled their momentum and the game went down to the wire with ND's tailenders providing them a glimmer of hope.

But the jubilation was clearly evident among the Wellington players when they wrapped up what looked an improbable victory after they were 33-5 in their second innings on Thursday and again when ND were 105-1 yesterday.

BJ Watling compiled a masterful 90 to set a brilliant foundation, but the support was not forthcoming and Wellington took the few chances that were on offer.

Knights coach Grant Bradburn lamented his team's struggle to stamp their authority with the bat.

"I think we've snatched defeat from the jaws of victory really," he said. "It certainly was disappointing.

"Clearly we're not quite performing as well with the bat as we are with the ball but I'm certainly confident that that'll come and we'll learn from today and we'll certainly improve," Bradburn said.

"There's a real desire in this team to keep improving.

The Knights resumed on 14-0 in perfect batting conditions and Watling and Brad Wilson put on 53 for the first wicket before Watling combined for a stand of 52 with Michael Parlane.

But just as Parlane was looking settled he fell to a sharp one-handed caught and bowled effort from Ili Tugaga.

James Marshall hit three consecutive elegant square cut boundaries but was dismissed in unfortunate fashion, when a deflection off Jeetan Patel's hand cannoned into the stumps where Marshall was caught out of his ground at the non-strikers' end and the Knights' fall had begun.

Watling hit 16 boundaries in his 235-minute stay at the crease as the 24-year-old fell just short of his fifth first-class ton.

While it was another good score to put in front of the Black Caps selectors, selection was not on his mind. "I'm not really thinking about that to be honest. Just going out there and trying to find some form, just playing my game."

Scoreboard

Northern Districts v Wellington, Seddon Park, Hamilton

WELLINGTON

First innings263

Second innings304

NORTHERN DISTRICTS

First innings281

Second innings

BJ Watling c Brodie b Patel90

B Wilson c Boam b Bowden10

M Parlane c & b Tugaga27

J Marshall run out13

K Williamson c Tugaga b Woodcock15

P McGlashan c Merchant b Bowden30

J Yovich lbw b Patel9

A Devcich b Patel8

B Scott c Woodcock b Bowden11

T Southee c Merchant b Bowden22

B Arnel not out0

Extras (1b, 9lb, 3w)13

Total (for 10 wkts, 87.1 overs)248

Fall: 53, 105, 127, 157, 167, 187, 211, 215, 246, 248.

Bowling: A McKay 18-4-46-0 (2w), J Patel 37-14-77-3, M Tugaga 13-3-51-1 (1w), D Bowden 13.1-3-48-4, L Woodcock 6-0-16-1.

Result: Wellington won by 38 runs.

Canterbury v Auckland, QEII Park, Christchurch

CANTERBURY

First innings 540

Second innings

R Nicol not out63

M Papps c sub (Neesham) b Erasmus5

T Astle not out55

Extras (6lb, 4nb)10

Total (1wkt dec, 39.5 overs)133

Fall:10

Bowling: M Bates 12-3-21-0, P Erasmus 8-4-16-1, T Nethula 13-4-35-0 (2nb), A Kitchen 3-0-18-0, B Singh 2-1-1-0, G Hopkins 1.5-0-36-0 (2nb).

AUCKLAND

First innings 392-7 dec

Second innings

R Jones run out44

R Bopara c sub (McCone) b Harris38

A Kitchen c ANderson b Harris2

S Styris not out33

G Hopkins lbw Donnelly6

R Young not out36

Extras (1lb)1

Total (4wkts, 56 overs)160

Fall: 77, 85, 86,94

Bowling: L Burtt 3-0-19-0, B Hiini 1-0-10-0, A Ellis 12-3-29-0, C Harris 10.3-2-23-2, J Donnelly 16-4-41-1, R Nicol 4-1-10-0, J Myburgh 6-2-17-0, T Astle 3-1-10-0, C Anderson 0.3-0-0-0.

Result: match drawn, first innings points to Canterbury

Standings in the Plunket Shield competition after the completion of yesterday's matches:

Standings P O FIDT Pts

Northern Districts321-- 18

Wellington32--- 14

Canterbury313- -12

Otago3 - -1 - 2

Central Districts 3- - 1 - 2

Auckland 3 - - -- 0

Points: 6 for outright, 2 for first innings lead, 1 for draw/tie on 1st innings with no outright result or for match abandoned.

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