Cricket: Super 349 of Otago eclipsed

Otago failed to defend its secondæhighest 50 over total - 349 for seven- in its Ford Trophy match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Aaron Redmond carried on his Plunket Shieldæplundering form with 114 off 84 balls. However, another senior citizen of the opening batsmen's union, Michael Papps, topped Redmond with an unbeaten 162 off 138 balls - his 10th ton in this form- to steer Wellington toa memorable six wicket win.

Wellington's 352 for four is the province's highest oneæday total, while the 273 run secondæwicket stand between Papps and Stephen Murdoch (136 off 123 balls) is a record for any wicket in New Zealand 50 over history, eclipsing Stephen Fleming and Roger Twose's unbroken 244 in the 2000-01 season.

Auckland has not had much to cheer about this season, but it is off to a solid start in the last of the three domestic competitions.

Chasing Canterbury's 269 for nine in Christchurch, Auckland eased past the target, reaching 270 for five, with two overs to spare in its opening trophy game.

The beaten semifinalist in the HRV Cup, Auckland failed to show in the Plunket Shield, finiæ shing a distant last.

At least it is off and running in the 50 over form, in large part down to a maiden century, 121 off 101 balls, by Craig Cachopa.

Cachopa had a strong Plunket Shield, with 795 runs at 49.6 and carried that into the shorter game to strong effect.

‘‘I can't complain. It's been a good day today, and more importantly it's Auckland's first win in a while so it was nice to get that for the boys,'' he said yesterday.

 


 

 

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