Auckland hopes may hinge on Webb’s gamble

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 30

Auckland hopes may hinge on Webb’s gamble

PA Auckland Peter Webb caused mutterings by declining to enforce the follow-on after Canterbury had been dismissed for 109 by Auckland in a Shell Trophy match at Eden Park yesterday.

Instead, Auckland scored 146 for four wickets — leaving Canterbury 330 to make in 380 minutes plus the 20 overs to be bowled in the last hour today. Webb had clearly based his decision on the state of the pitch which is taking plenty of spin and bounce. He said Auckland would better profit from the last use of the wicket, and a declaration would also set Canterbury a “gettable” target. Yesterday the ball played tricks on the pitch, which is virtually in its fifth day. It was used for the match against Wellington recently. Auckland’s hopes of capturing the Shell Trophy might hinge on Webb’s gamble. When the openers, Phil Horne and Derek Scott, began Auckland's second innings they made the pitch look reasonably docile. They stroked the ball around so well that their century stand came up in short order, the second 50 coming off only 66 balls. Home, despite a groin strain, drove, cut and swept to marvellous effect, hitting eight fours in his 62. Scott seemed on his way to his fourth 50 of the

season when he fell to a bat-pad catch off Vaughan Brown. Dipak Patel went in similar fashion and then David Stead’s spinners accounted for Horae and Franklin. Earlier, Auckland had bowled and fielded splendidly to run through Canterbury. The 38-year-old Stead top-scored with an unbeaten 24. Auckland has not been impressive in the field this season, but this time the catches stuck. Franklin took a scorcher at gully to dismiss Anup Nathu, and Paul Kelly took a smart leg-side catch off Patel to snare the dangerous Paul McEwan. Patel, who opened the bowling, was still delivering his off-spin in menacing manner at the end of the innings after 31 consecutive overs. His line and flight were alternatively dangerous and teasing. His figures of four for 47 were ample testimony to the problems he posed. He and Gary Troup mopped up the innings, taking the last four wickets for only five runs. AUCKLAND First innings 292/7 dec. Second innings P. Horne b Stead .... 62

D. Scott c Hatham b Brown 37 T. Franklin c Brown b Stead 0 D. Patel c Latham b Brown 10 M. Greatbatch not out . 15 P. Webb not out 10 Extras (blO, 1b2,) ... 12 Total (for 4 wkts dec.) 146 Fall: 107, 107, 109, 117. Bowling.— S. Tracy 4,1, 15, 0; V. Brown 24, 7, 59, 2; G. MacDonald 9,2, 25, 0; D. Stead 17, 9, 35, 2. CANTERBURY First innings D. Boyle b Patel 0 A. Nathu c Franklin b Morrison 14 P. McEwan c Kelly b Patel 13 V. Brown b Bradley. . . 17 R. Latham c Troup b Watson ' 5 D. Stead not out 24 A. Hart b Bradley.... 1 S. McNally b Patel ... 16 G. Macdonald c Webb b Patel 0 C. Thiele b Troup .... 0 S. Tracy c Kelly b Troup 1: Extras (blO, lbs, nb3) 18 Total 109 Fall: 0, 26, 31, 43, 65, 69, 104, 104, 107. Bowling.— G. Troup 11.2, 7, 11, 2; D. Patel 31,11, 47, 4; M. Bradley 7,3, 15, 2; D. Morrison 4,' 1,5, 1 (nb2); W. Watson 8,0, 16, 1 (nbl). Second innings D. Boyle not out 5 A. Nathu not out 8 Extras (lb 3 nbl, b2). 5

Total 18 Bowling.— D. Patel 6,3, 6,0; G. Troup 3,1, 7,0; D. Morrison 3,1, 2, 0 (nbl).