Poor running Central's downfall as Northern win by eight wickets

In an age when cricket scores and other, less important, information, can go round the world in the blink of an eye, it is amazing that communicating a simple decision over the length of a cricket pitch can sometimes prove so difficult. Yet this was the downfall of Central Districts in Hamilton today, as five batsmen were lost to run outs.

Northern Districts won by five wickets with almost eight overs to spare. Some spectacular batting by opener (yes, opener) Simon Doull will probably be the memory that most spectators take away with them.

A 79 partnership for the first wicket between Hill and Kelly saw CD off to a good start. Kelly looked in prize form, with seven fours in his 56. His dismissal turned the match irrevocably in ND's direction.

Three of the run outs were against top order batsmen. Only Oram's was the result of a mix-up, with both batsmen finishing at the same end. The rest were simply a question of underestimating the capabilities of the ND fielders.

James Marshall was involved in three of the run outs, including two direct hits. Grant Bradburn also threw the stumps down.

The loss of momentum caused by the frequent dismissals allowed the bowlers to reestablish control. The spin combination of Bradburn and Martin was particularly effective, with combined figures of 20-1-58-1.

The CD final score was only as high as 198 because of a loose last over from Alex Tait. Two sixes were hit by Andrew Schwass, in his first Shell Cup appearance for two years.

ND sprung a surprise with the appearance of Simon Doull (previous highest score in 45 Shell Cup innings: 20) as Michael Parlane's opening partner. An early season experiment in this regard had not been encouraging. Doull achieved a pair in the space of two hours in a Max game.

Today, it was a spectacular success. Employing every part of his bat with effect, Doull hit, slashed, edged, carved and stroked his way to 58 from 41 balls including five fours and two sixes. The mightiest blow was a shot over wide long-on that almost finished in the catering van.

He went down valiantly, a top edge climbing so high that bowler Andrew Schwass was within handshaking distance of the square leg umpire when he took the catch.

Daniel Vettori, another destructive pinch-hitter, hit 80 in club cricket yesterday. ND supporters fantasised about the combination of Doull and Vettori opening the innings in some future match.

Doull left ND well ahead of the required rate, but four top order wickets had fallen in the first fifteen overs. These included Michael Parlane, caught at fine leg from the first legitimate ball of the innings.

It was James Marshall who guided ND home without alarm. Marshall's day began in the early hours with a phone message from Mum telling him that twin brother Hamish was walking out to bat in his debut test innings in South Africa.

It continued with his part in three run outs and finished with a match winning innings. Marshall has played little Shell Cup cricket and this was by some way his highest innings. It its own way this was like Hamish's innings in Johannesburg: careful, defiant and with the interests of the team first and last. Less comparable are the two attacks involved.

Marshall reached his fifty with the winning hit. He faced 97 balls and hit six fours.

Both teams were without four squad members on international duty or who were injured as a result of being with the Black Caps. ND has a strength in depth that means that its selectors face problems only when everybody is fit and available.

CD had five players on Shell Cup debut today, and it showed. Stepping up the scoring rate at the end of the innings was beyond the youngsters, as was holding back the ND scoring rate at vital times.

Too many extras were given away and the fielding sometimes grew sloppy under pressure. These are the sort of mistakes that must be expected and understood in a young side.

A player who did stand out was off-spinner Haydn Morgan who finished with 10-1-24-1. His one day debut was every bit as impressive as his first appearance in the Shell Trophy earlier in the week.

ND has atoned for a poor performance last week. It will be a surprise if it does not feature in the top three at the end of the league stage, particularly if Doull continues his convincing Ian Botham impersonation.