blogging it real

Well the first round of the State Shield has just been completed and here is a list of the standout performers. Basically anybody who scored more than 70 or took 3 or more wickets in an innings.

Otago v Central Districts (CD won outright by 7 wickets)

Otago 1st Innings 193
Schwass 15 2 50 3
Sulzberger 12 5 14 3

C.District 1st Innings 291
Jamie How 105
McMillan 21.3 6 74 3
Wilson 21 7 48 3

Otago 2nd Innings 278
Cumming 125
Schwass 18 9 33 3
Sulzberger 28 8 67 3

C.District 2nd Innings 181/3
Jamie How 108

***************

Auckland v Northern Districts (Auckland won outright by an innings and 89 runs)

Northern 1st innings 237
Tama Canning 6 for 44

Auckland 1st Innings 418
Tama Canning 115
Darryl Tuffey 4 for 74

Northern 2nd Innings 92
Kerry Walmsley 7 for 28

***************

Canterbury v Wellington (Match drawn, Wellington take first innings points)

Wellington 1st innings 384
Matthew Bell 86
Chris Martin 28.3 6 63 4
Paul Wiseman 29 7 63 3

Canterbury 1st Innings 298/8
Stewart 82
O'Brien 25 2 91 4

Wellington 2nd Innings 153/7
Chris Martin 16 4 44 4

and a bit more interesting news...

Captain Stephen Fleming hopes more Black Caps will challenge his vice-captain for the end of series spoils in the New Zealand summer, acknowledging the side has a couple of key players "simmering" in the background – Daryl Tuffey and Shane Bond. [yeah right, as if Bond will last moe than 3 overs before breaking down again]

New Zealand's only century maker in the tests was allrounder Jacob Oram embarrassingly one of only three Black Caps – the others were Fleming and Mathew Sinclair – to make a higher score than Australian tailender Glenn McGrath's 61.

Australia was all too much for opener Mark Richardson who announced his retirement yesterday, citing mental tiredness.

"I tried to talk him out of it," Fleming admitted.

"He wasn't recognised enough in terms of the runs he provided. He wasn't flashy or flamboyant but he was recognised as one of the top 10 players of the world for a long time.

"He was different .... a surfer, an ex-spinner. He could be complicated but also extremely interesting over a beer.

"I'm disappointed to see him go."

... the status of Mills' fellow pace bowler Ian Butler is under a cloud after Bracewell's younger brother Brendon launched a scathing attack on the little-used Northern Districts right armer, claiming yesterday he was a "selfish bloke ....the sort of character Johnny doesn't want in the team.

"He is one of those blokes who gets a dose of the sniffles and infects the whole team with his misery."

John Bracewell would not comment on his brother's outburst yesterday but should face further scrutiny when the team returns home tomorrow.

Nothing like a bit of bitchiness amongst grown men is there?

Regarding the opening issue now that Richardson has called it a day (prematurely surely). The selectors might be looking at Jamie How after his centuries in each innings for Central Districts v Otago in the first round of the State Shield. I don't know when the last time a NZer scored hundreds in both innings opening the batting in first class cricket. Maybe not that long ago but it doesn't happen much in any batting position in NZ.

This guy has what all good openers need though when facing the new ball on a greentop.