da spicy bet： James Marshall’s hard-hit maiden Shell Cup century proved to be amatch-winner for Northern Districts, as Canterbury’s run chase came up 21runs short in an entertaining third-round clash
Steve Deane17-Dec-2000James Marshall’s hard-hit maiden Shell Cup century proved to be amatch-winner for Northern Districts, as Canterbury’s run chase came up 21runs short in an entertaining third-round clash.Marshall’s outstanding innings included six fours and four sixes. His second50 came off only 28 balls as Northern plundered 40 runs from its final fiveovers to set Canterbury an imposing target of 250.When Geoff Allott bowled Robbie Hart with only four deliveries left in theND innings it looked as if Marshall’s chance of reaching three figures hadgone. The young right-hander found himself stranded at the non-striker’s endon 95. But Alex Tait pushed his first ball into the off-side for a single,leaving Marshall three balls from which to score five runs to achieve themilestone.He smashed the next delivery from Allott wide of mid-on and the ballcomfortably beat Darren Reekers to the fence.Marshall then calmly played the next ball into the covers and raised botharms in jubilation as he completed the comfortable single.Like many short players, the diminutive Marshall showed a liking for theleg-side, striking most of his boundaries in an arc between mid-on andmid-wicket.Opening the innings for ND Simon Doull played a wide selection of some ofthe ugliest shots witnessed in Canterbury this year, riding his luck andboosting ND’s run-rate on the way to a grotesque 34.Eventually his luck ran out when he skied a crossed-bat slog at a WarrenWisneski delivery. Chris Harris had time to drive from Ashburton, park hiscar, get a coffee and then run in take the catch.Canterbury began its run chase disastrously with Hastings run-out withoutfacing a ball in the first over.Brad Doody drove a Doull delivery back down the pitch and the ball crashedinto the stumps, via the bowler’s fingers, leaving the rapidly retreatingHastings short of his ground.The unfortunate Hastings could have been forgiven for uttering the immortalwords of both Yoda and former England soccer manager Graham Taylor, as hesloped off the field – “Do I not like that”.Reekers didn’t last long before being yorked by Tuffey. Gary Stead then fellvictim to a brilliant piece of fielding. He smashed a wide ball from Doullfor what looked to be a certain four over backward point. But Neil Parlanearched backwards and threw himself in the air to take the ball in anoutstretched right hand.At 44/3 Canterbury already looked beaten.Chris Harris and Doody put on a century stand, but their inability to findthe boundary left Canterbury with too much to do in the last 15 overs. Atone point both Harris and Doody had compiled 14 singles in succession.Alex Tait removed Doody for 82 when he hit at soft catch to Hamish Marshallat cover. He was quickly followed by Hopkins, LBW for 2, and a strangelysubdued Chris Harris, whose 55 had taken 89 balls.With nine overs remaining the comparative scores were tied and twospecialist batsmen, Aaron Redmond and Michael Papps, remained at the creasefor Canterbury.But despite the pair adding a threatening 44 from 29 balls they were unablemirror Marshall’s end of innings heroics.Redmond’s fine 39 from 27 balls took Canterbury close, but Tait and Tuffeybowled full and straight at the death to close-out the contest.