Rain brings early finish at Hamilton

A spectacular thunderstorm brought an end to the round eight State Shield game between Northern Districts and Otago at WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton.

It came in mid-afternoon, with ND 130/4 after 34.3 overs, having won the toss.

The bulk of ND's runs, 112, came in a partnership between James and Hamish Marshall. The twins improved the record stand for ND's fourth wicket against Otago by one run. It was previously held by Barry Cooper and Grant Bradburn, at Mt Maunganui in 1994.

The Marshalls rescued ND from the parlous position of 13/3. King of the pinch-hitters Simon Doull was first to go. Extra bounce accounted for him as he tamely edged a Kerry Walmsley delivery to Lee Germon, who was deputising for the injured Martyn Croy behind the stumps.

Grant Robinson fell to a brilliant diving catch by Chris Gaffaney at square leg as he attempted to hook James McMillan. Robinson has failed to translate his composure at the crease into runs in the State Shield. His three today gives him a total of 16 in three innings.

Matthew Hart lasted only two deliveries, playing around a low full toss from Walmsley for a duck. Having won defending an improbably low total against CD in New Plymouth two days ago, it seemed that ND were set on repeating the strategy.

The Otago opening attack was tight and disciplined, Walmsley finishing his first spell with figures of 6-0-19-2, while McMillan had 6-1-16-1. Walmsley in particular made good use of the bouncy nature of the pitch, also achieving movement away from the right handers.

Slow pitches have limited the impact of the revised regulation allowing one head-high bouncer an over in New Zealand. It was a factor today with the batsmen tentative about getting on the front foot, making themselves vulnerable to lateral movement.

The threat subsided when the medium pacers took over the attack. The Marshall brothers built their partnership sensibly, rejecting big shots in favour of working the ball around and sharp running.

James Marshall dominated the strike and the scoring in the early phase of the stand. Hamish's first boundary did not come until his 56th delivery.

As the thunder began to rumble James Marshall was out, caught behind off a thin edge off Nathan McCullum for 49, including six fours.

Then it rained. The Hamilton ground staff battled heroically against the elements, but after so much rain in recent weeks there was nowhere for the water to go.

Both sides receive two points for an abandoned fixture. That is enough to secure ND's place in the knock-out stage of the State Shield and to maintain the challenge for top spot, with Canterbury beating Auckland today, Otago have lost ground, and are now heavily dependent on other results going their way if they are to stay in the competition.