State Shield Final: Cairns Swan-Song!

[Andy Mellon]

Well, its the New Zealand State Shield Final today as star-studded Canterbury take on unfashionable Central Districts in the last one-day game that Chris Cairns will play for Canterbury. For those of you in the UK, this Domestic competition final is being shown on terrestrial television!

Anyway, the Canterbury side today boasts many world-famous names - Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Paul Wiseman, Peter Fulton & Shane Bond.
Central Districts 'boast' NZ reject Matthew Sinclair, recent Black Cap Jamie How, and the re-called Matthew Mason. In addition, they have one of the best youngsters in New Zealand, Ryan Taylor.

The Central Districts innings has just ended, barely scraping past 200 runs to 212 - 8. The main beneficiary in a fairy-tale finale was Chris Cairns. Not only did he take the vital wicket of Jamie How (thanks to a stunning catch from Harris), but he skittled 2 batsman (Griggs and Hegglun) and was gifted a catch in the slips from opener Barnett to finish with 4 for 52. This not only took him past 100 one day domestic wickets, but 100 wickets for Canterbury too (he had taken 3 wickets for Northerns, so the 4th wicket took him to 100 wickets for Canterbury). He unfortunately skulled one of the CD batsmen (Englefield), who had to be taken to hospital for stiches and a scan when he was 42 not out.

For CD, Ryan Taylor looked good for 50 runs off 42 balls until he sliced onto his own stumps. Matt Sinclair was also batting well until a running mix-up saw him run out.

The question is, with CD's bowling attack being the best bowling line up in New Zealand, can they bowl out the stars of Canterbury?

[Andy Mellon]

Well, it turned out to be Cairns' day in the end!

Coming in with Canterbury is danger at 5 wickets down with 70 runs still required, Cairns came in and bashed an unbeaten 40 from 30 balls - including winning the match with a massive 6! That's Cairns all over really! On the performance he gave yesterday, he could keep playing for the Kiwis for years to come! I'm really bemused by his retirement.

By the way. Main of the Match was one C . L . Cairns esq!

[CD Stags]

Just thought i'd point out that it's Mike Mason not Matthew and it's Ross Taylor not Ryan




Close though :P

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by CD Stags

Just thought i'd point out that it's Mike Mason not Matthew and it's Ross Taylor not Ryan

Thanks for pointing that out. I keep getting it wrong - Matt Mason is an Aussie with an Irish passport who plays for Worcestershire in the UK which is why I get the Kiwi Mike Mason's name wrong so often. i have no idea why I keep calling Ross Taylor by the wrong name. Keep kicking me if I get it wrong. I'll sort myself out soon!