Otago beats Canty to win Shell trophy

Press, 10 February 1986, Page 23

Otago beats Canty to win Shell trophy

PA Dunedin Otago won the 1985/86 Shell Trophy cricket competition when it beat Canterbury on the first innings at Carisbrook on Saturday.

Otago mustered 403 for five declared in reply to Canterbury’s 401 for eight declared. Otago began the day at 212 for two needing 190 runs to clinch the trophy. It lost Kevin Bums (29) and Stu McCullum (134) fairly early in the day but this was followed by a match-winning fifthwicket stand of 116 in 135 minutes between Derek Walker and John Lindsay.

They took Otago to within 35 runs of the crucial first innings points before Lindsay was lbw to Andrew Hintz for 59, scored off 11 balls and including 10 fours. The Canterbury fieldsmen dropped five more chances including two off Lindsay early in his innings. However, Walker’s unbeaten 76 was chanceless. It was made in 210 minutes off 174 balls and included eight fours and it was fitting that he should score the winning runs with an off-drive for fourNo Shell Trophy win has given the Otago cricket captain, Warren Lees, more satisfaction than that achieved by his team.

It is the third time Lees has skippered Otago to victory in the national three-day competition. The previous wins were in 1976-77 and 1978-79. “This win is particularly satisfying because we were written off by so many northern critics before the season began, and we weren’t expected to do very well,” he said. “When you can prove all those people in the North Island wrong it is especially satisfying.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in the team who has to say: ‘I didn’t do my bit.’ That’s the most satisfying thing,” he said. “Everyone performed at some stage. It is definitely the most consistent Otago team that I have played in,” Lees said. He said there was an excellent atmosphere in the team throughout the season. “I know it’s easier when you’re winning, but I’ve found them a really good bunch of guys to get on with. It definitely helped having Brian McKechnie in the side because he has a very levelling influence, even on me. “I’ve not been in that position before. In the past we’ve come from second or third to win. That’s easier than to be out in front. There is certainly more pressure on the leading side, both from the media and the players themselves. “We’ve tried to convince ourselves in each game that it is just a hobby and that we had to enjoy our hobby otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it — and things worked out.” Lees was positive and aggressive in his captaincy, and he said he tried to make this his policy throughout "We know we were going to play on some pretty flat tracks, as we did last season, and we weren’t prepared to have first innings results. “We set particularly attacking fields. When we batted I felt we were always more positive than the other teams and we created situations which had the other side won-

dering,” Lees said. He admitted to some anxious moments during the match against Canterbury. “I must admit I didn’t sleep particularly well on Friday night thinking about today,” he said. “And today typified the effort put in throughout the season. We’ve worked on partnerships when we’ve batted, we’ve looked for more consistency from the middleorder, and it really came through today.” Next season for Lees? “I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m 98-99 per cent sure I’ll be available.” Scoreboard.— OTAGO First innings K. R. Rutherford c Latham b Roberts ... 44 S. J. McCullum c Brown b Hintz 134 R. N. Hoskin c Kennedy b Stead 23 K. J. Burns c Kennedy b McEwan 29 D. J. Walker not out . . 76 J. K. Lindsay lbw b Hintz 59 W. K. Lees not out .. . 13 Extras (b 9 lb 10, w3, nb3) 25 Total (for 5 wkts dec.) 403 Fall: 98, 151, 223, 251, 317. Bowling: S. J. Roberts 22, 5, 60, 1; S. R. McNally 27, 6, 83, 0 (lw): A. J. Hint2 21, 3, 75, 2 (3nb); W. R. Brown 32, 15, 54, 0 (lw); D. W. Stead 28, 3, 92, 1; P. E. McEwan 10, 6, 10, 1; A. Nathu 1,0, 1, 0. Canterbury first innings CANTERBURY First innings 401 for 4 dec. Second innings A. Nathu not out 23 D. J. Boyle not out .. . 5 Bowling: J. A. Cushing 7,1, 14; R. N. Hoskin 4,2, 3,0; J. K. Lindsay 2,0, 11, 0. Otago won, on the first innings. Man of the match: S. J. McCullum (Otago).