Pitch may hamper

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 64

Pitch may hamper

PA Auckland' Auckland, in much the same situation as the New Zealand cricket team in Australia a couple of days ago, needs to win two of its last three games to seriously challenge for the Shell Trophy. Lining up against Canterbury, however, on the outer Eden Park oval this morning, it may have to wait until a later date for the vital big points haul. Such is the condition of the pitch, Auckland can hardly expect to cast the southerners aside with the ease it managed in the opening round at Lancaster Park.

On that occasion Auckland batted first, scoring runs at a gallop with Trevor Franklin and Dipak Patel the jockeys.

They undid Canterbury twice in double-quick time and pocketed a healthy points tally. Since then, Auckland has progressed steadily but without great reward, while Canterbury has managed but a couple of first-innings decisions. Unfortunately, this game promises to be decided on the first innings at a time when both sides would dearly love the big points of an outright win. For some reason — but one which has stumped many — it has been decreed the game will be played on the sleepy pitch on which Auckland and Wellington had their powder-puff struggle not too many days ago. In that game, in which only about 500 runs were

scored in two and twothirds days play, Wellington eventually meandered beyond Auckland’s firstinnings declared tally to take four points.

Now, when it wants to get back into winning action, Auckland and Canterbury will be confronted with a pitch which is unlikely to produce a result. Auckland: Phil Horne, Derek Scott, Trevor Franklin, Dipak Patel, Mark Greatbatch, Peter Webb, Richard Reid, Paul Kelly, Gary Troup, Martin Bradley, Danny Morrison, Willie Watson. Canterbury: Anup Nathu, Peter Kennedy, Vaughan Brown, Rod Latham, Paul McEwan, Garry MacDonald, David Stead, Ash Hart, David Boyle, Craig Thiele, Steve McNally, Sean Tracy.