This
was not a gripping game of cricket. From early on it was apparent that Central
would not make a score that even Wellington’s notoriously unreliable
win-detection radar could fail to trace. But it was a perfect day at the Basin,
on the cusp of summer and autumn, rather like it had been half a world away at
St Lawrence six months ago, so pulse-quickening cricket was not essential for
the day to be thoroughly pleasurable.
Central’s
innings began and ended badly. Ben Smith was first to go, leg before to Brent Arnel
in the third over to one that nipped back. It looked a little high. Jamie How
was caught at first slip by Franklin off Gillespie for six, and Carl Cachopa
was caught behind by Papps off Arnel for a duck: 28 for three after nine overs.
Was
this Gillette Cup Final syndrome at work? English cricket’s knockout
competition used to culminate in a final at Lord’s on the first Saturday in
September. It was a 60-over competition, so had to be under way by 10.30 in the
morning to allow a finish in daylight. With early-autumn dew still around during
the opening overs, the team winning the toss would put the opposition in with
the expectation that simple seam-up bowling would see off the top order. This did
not happen every year, but did so often enough that knowledgeable spectators
would ensure that they were in their seats half an hour before the start on the
basis that the toss might be the biggest influence on the outcome.
A
fifty partnership for the fourth wicket between David Meiring and Corrie van
Wyk cheered Central up. I had not come across Meiring before. He was born in
Worcester, but has a sound New Zealand cricketing heritage; his grandfather is
Tom Pritchard, the fast bowler who played the majority of his cricket in the
County Championship for Warwickshire (and a few games for Kent in 1956).
Meiring
drove a half volley to cover to be caught by Grant Elliott on 35, just when he
looked set for a big innings. He was replaced by Dane Cleaver, who is also well
connected; he is Kane Williamson’s cousin (does the whole family have rhyming
first names?). Cleaver went wandering across his crease and was leg before to
Woodcock. This left Central at 91 for five, facing the familiar quandary of
having to speed up without losing wickets.
Van
Wyk and Central skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett proceeded to do precisely that. At
the start of their partnership it seemed that Central would struggle to reach
200. When the hundred partnership came up just under 20 overs later, 250 was in
prospect.
However,
van Wyk was out without addition to the partnership for 70, caught by
substitute Jeetan Patel from a mistimed chip on the onside off Elliott, and a
collapse of Reichsmark proportions ensued. The last five wickets went for just
nine runs. The innings ended with a spectacular piece of fielding. Last man
Panda (that’s what Cricket Archive calls him) Mathieson sent the ball high into
the air off the top edge. Racing in from fine leg, Stephen Murdoch had to cover
the 30 metres or so from his starting position to where ball would return to
earth while persuading two of his colleagues, converging on the same location,
to leave it for him to deal with. He pulled it off with wonderful one-handed
catch after a full-length dive.
With
four for 26 Arnel was the pick of the bowlers, but all performed respectably or
better. Elliott’s crafty trundling produced one for 25. Even so, it was sad to
see Jeetan Patel reduced to carrying the drinks. He is heading back to
Warwickshire shortly and may feel that he is better valued in Birmingham than
in New Zealand.
Michael
Pollard was out in the first over of the reply, cutting Seth Rance to Mathieson
at third man, but that was as high as Central’s hopes got. Michael Papps saw
the innings through, finishing with 83 not out. He put on 87 for the second wicket
with Murdoch and 93 for the third with Tom Blundell. I have written in the past
that 34-year-old Papps is occupying a place that might be better given to a
younger player. His form has been so good over the past two years that now I’m
not so sure. New Zealand’s search for an effective opening partnership remains unsuccessful,
and letting Papps have a go as an interim measure for a year or so is a more
sensible proposal than some on offer.
Though
the outcome was never in doubt, there was interest in whether Wellington could
reach their target of 201 within 40 overs, thus gaining a potentially valuable
bonus point. The top four go through to the knockout stage, the byzantine
nature of which means that there is considerable advantage to being placed as
high as possible on the qualifying table.
Good
slow bowling by Tarun Nethula and Marty Kain slowed the pace through the middle
of the innings, but little attempt was made to attack them. Kain, in particular,
was allowed to settle into a containing rhythm. Noema-Barnett rightly retained
an attacking field, so if the batsmen wanted to force things they would have to
take risks to do so.
Sixteen
were needed from the 40th over to secure the bonus point. Blundell
was bowled middle stump from the first ball as he attempted a desperate
dilscoop. This brought in James Franklin who took twos off his first three
deliveries before settling the matter with two sixes from the final two balls.
In
the final round of games Wellington yet again contrived to lose when it
appeared less trouble to win, thus conceding home advantage in the minor
semi-final to Auckland, so this was the last game at the Basin this season, and
the least spectacular day of those that I have seen, though that is more a
measure of the luck I have had with of the rest of the cricket that I have watched
there since October. As cricket watchers say to each other on these occasions,
winter well.
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