Wizards look to score a home semi

The Canterbury Wizards have secured a place in the semifinals of the New Zealand one-day cricket competition, but a good performance in their final round-robin game today against Wellington could grab them a home semifinal.

By snatching two points in a tie with competition leader Auckland in Auckland on Saturday, Canterbury cannot be passed by the bottom two teams, Otago and Wellington.

Canterbury coach Bob Carter said the team wanted to continue the momentum it had built in the one-dayers at QEII today, after finishing bottom of the table in the Twenty20.

Canterbury also had a shocker when it was crushed by Central Districts last week, dismissed for 77.

"Saturday (against Auckland) was a marked improvement over CD," Carter said.

He thought the team showed character against Auckland after it had seen the game slipping away.

"To get three wickets off the last three balls was excellent."

Medium pace bowler Carl Frauenstein was the team's hero conceding just four runs off his first three balls before taking two wickets before a run out off the last ball.

Depending on other results today, Canterbury could finish anywhere between second and fourth. Finishing second would mean Canterbury will play Auckland in Auckland, third would be a home semifinal, and fourth an away game.

Carter said the team's fielding could be lifted and while the top order batting has not performed strongly this year, having Michael Papps score a hundred on Saturday was encouraging.

Canterbury beat Wellington earlier in the competition.

The other games today are Northern Districts v Auckland at Whangarei and Central Districts v Otago at New Plymouth.

- © Fairfax NZ News