THE PRESS, Thursday, February 20, 2014 SPORT B11

CRICKET Fulton shares in shield joy from distance

Matt Richens ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● SCOREBOARD When a grinning Hamish Bennett cracked open a beer and sprayed Canterbury v Central Districts its contents on team-mate Tim Rangiora Johnston’s face, the Canterbury CANTERBURY Three of the Wizards’ Rangiora changing room First innings ...... 346 best: Brendon erupted. Second innings McCullum, right, Johnston quickly repaid the S Keen c van Wyk b Rance...... 8 with fellow New favour as the side realised they’d G Worker ...... 52 Zealand won the – New Zea- D Brownlie lbw Nethula...... 60 -makers land’s symbol of first-class H Nicholls c How b Nethula ...... 40 debutant Jimmy supremacy – and congratulated B Cachopa not out ...... 15 Neesham, left, each other. Extras (4b, 2lb, 12nb)...... 18 and BJ Watling Far from the traditional way of Total (for 3 , 74 overs) 193 after their 1-0 winning the competition, the Can- Fall of wickets: 8, 105, 161. series win over terbury players watched online Bowling: S Rance 19-8-32-1, C India. updates of the Otago- Gaylard 11-5-20-0, R Badenhorst Photo: GETTY match and when Canterbury’s 18-8-39-0 (1nb), T Nethula IMAGES southern neighbours held on for 23-2-79-2 (11nb), G Hay 3-0-17-0. the unlikeliest of draws, the title CENTRAL DISTRICTS was won. First innings 483-8dec There’s a round to go, but with We’ve come Result: Match drawn a maximum of 20 points available, McCullum retires from 300 glare Canterbury’s 21-point buffer over close to a both Otago and Central Districts is Canterbury and my first title, it’s unassailable. trophy the last bloody good,’’ Worker said. Mark Geenty skipper. which could extend his cricketing ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● Once Usual and member of couple of years ‘‘The Plunket Shield is right up ‘‘It has to be a magnum. I owe break. the successful test team, Peter there in terms of sweat shed. I If ’s council chiefs him two and he owes me three. [Brendon ‘‘He was pretty sore after day Fulton, wasn’t able to be with the and now we’ve got guess we should thank Bradley wanted to give Brendon McCullum Ideas please,’’ Taylor wrote. He McCullum] got 300 three and four, but it was a good team but was rapt to have won the over the line. Scott and Braces, eh.’’ the keys to the city, he wasn’t eventually got a magnum of sore and once he got 300 he looked title for the third time. And in Whangarei, Wellington hanging about to soak up any Penfolds Grange 2003. he looked a lot a lot fresher than he did an hour ‘‘I’m over the moon mate,’’ he needed just two final-day wickets more public adulation. Prime Minister John Key visi- earlier when he went out,’’ Hesson said. ‘‘We’ve come close to a trophy to beat Northern Districts and ’s newest sporting ted the dressing room on Tuesday fresher than he did said. ‘‘Like all our players that are the last couple of years and now ‘‘It was a little bit of an anti- keep their title hopes alive, but the hero slipped quietly back to family night to offer his congratulations. involved in all three forms we’ll we’ve got over the line.’’ climax to win the title with a dull Far North rain meant not a ball life in Christchurch yesterday, The Mad Butcher, Peter Leitch, an hour earlier look at times where we can sched- Fulton and his stand-in Andrew draw, but that doesn’t take any- was bowled yesterday. having dominated news bulletins publicly pledged a $100 meat pack when he went out. ule a small break. It’s a long 12 Ellis have won the title three times thing away from this achievement, Canterbury coach and front pages for his record- to the triple century-maker. months till the World Cup and now and both said the same thing winning it with a game to go is a heaped praise on his entire team, breaking 302 against India at the The fate of McCullum’s record- guys aren’t going to be able to play about how special it was. ‘‘It’s a pretty good effort,’’ Ellis said. but also singled out the hard-work, . breaking bat appeared undeter- everything.’’ hard trophy to win and it takes a He did acknowledge the side team-work and ability of the side’s After a torrid evening of media mined, aside from being rested in 13-hour epic. McCullum said the back prob- lot of good cricket over a long had a bit of luck yesterday, too. bowling unit, especially its fit- commitments then celebration, the family home as he unveils a After the World T20, it’s the lem that had him thinking dark time,’’ Ellis said. Otago’s No eight and 10 again leader Bennett. McCullum is on leave until the heavier willow for coming T20 then a full thoughts last November would Canterbury had played out a batsmen – Derek de Boorder and ‘‘My cricket life was pretty team reassemble on March 8 to assignments. tour of West Indies starting in late trouble him for the rest of his draw with Central Districts at Bradley Scott – batted a combined tough for a while and a lot of these prepare for the World Twenty20 in Now it’s up to coach Mike May. Hesson said he was reluctant career. Rangiora yesterday as Dean four hours with Michael Bracewell guys have been my biggest Bangladesh. Hesson to keep his captain in cot- to rest players from tests, but ‘‘There will be times when it Brownlie (60) and a patient, (155no from 401 minutes) to deny supporters.’’ Bennett said His absent team-mate Ross Tay- ton wool for the World Cup McCullum could potentially miss flares up and it will be pretty tough 307-minute 52 from George Worker an Auckland side which needed an So it’s fitting the larger than life lor was inundated by offers from starting next February, given his the limited-overs segment to have to handle. I’ve got to make sure helped the side save the match outright win to take the title chase quick kicked off what is expected vineyards after his Twitter plea for chronic back injury and various an extended winter break. that along with the coaching and despite trailing by 137 on the first to the final match. to be a couple of days of guidance on what celebratory other ailments that he fought McCullum’s wife, Ellissa, is due support staff that we manage my innings. ‘‘This is my third season with celebrations. bottle of wine he should send to the through at the Basin in his nearly to have their third child in May workload.’’

SPORTS BOWLS BRIEFS World Cup Down-Under Kelly, Matthews ❯❯❯❯ New Zealand and Australia will co-host the 2017 World Cup, it was announced last night. The New Zealand and Australian bid beat out the challenge of axed from squad league dark horse South Africa. The hosting proposal included games in Papua New Guinea, with the possibility Brendon Egan [email protected] of further fixtures staged in other Pacific Islands. A ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ will be formed to run the World Cup, but New Zealand officials are keen for the country to Former New Zealand bowls inter- host at least a semifinal and perhaps even the final. nationals Andrew Kelly and Serena Matthews have been sensationally dumped from the Up for auction Canterbury squads for next ❯❯❯❯ Olympic medallists , and month’s national intercentre finals have donated signed items for auction at the in Wellington. International Track Meet’s ( ITM) pre-event luncheon in The selectors were standing Christchurch tomorrow. Ulmer, a 2004 Athens Olympic behind their decisions to omit the Games track cycling gold medallist, and Athletics New pair yesterday, arguing they had Zealand high performance director Scott Goodman will picked the squads on form over the be the guest speakers at the Christchurch Casino summer. luncheon. Meet director Paul Coughlan said the pair ‘‘It was very tough. It’s the would speak about the development of elite . worst part of the job,’’ Canterbury Tickets were still available, he said. The ITM meet will be senior women’s convenor Norma held at Christ’s College on Saturday. Hutchinson said. ‘‘This year has been extremely tough because we’ve got so much Putting it out talent.’’ ❯❯❯❯ supreme winner will need to The Canterbury women’s team have sorted out the slight dip in her putting form as she will comprise the experienced San- takes on a strong field in the LPGA Thailand starting in dra Keith in the singles, talented Pattaya today. World No 1 Inbee Park is playing her first young Burnside duo Mandy Boyd LPGA Tour tournament of the year and the the and Tayla Bruce in the pairs and 70-woman field includes the top 10 players in the world. Bev Morel, Sheryl Pearce, Sherrie Ko has been in handy form this season with LPGA Tour Cottle and Pam Phair in the fours. finishes of tied for seventh and tied for third on either Hutchinson said consistency side of her second at the New Zealand Open in had been a key factor for the Christchurch earlier this month. selectors and admitted other Lacking form: Andrew Kelly is a shock players in the squad had omission from the Canterbury bowls Tactix to play in Nelson performed better than Matthews squad for next month’s national this season. All of the seven intercentre finals. ❯❯❯❯ Canterbury’s round 11 trans-Tasman league women’s players have previously Photo: ANDY JACKSON/FAIRFAX NZ home match against the Central Pulse will remain within represented Canterbury. the region’s boundaries. The May 11 game was originally Kelly’s axing from the men’s HOW THEY LINE UP scheduled to be played at Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre but squad would also raise plenty of the venue was closed down last month because it was eyebrows in the Canterbury bowls deemed an earthquake risk. It will now be played at community. Canterbury squads: Nelson’s Stoke Stadium. Men’s convenor Peter Joyce Men: said they had rewarded bowlers Singles: Tony Andrews NZ under-19s struggle who had been performed strongly (Rangiora) this season, rather than worrying Pairs: Kelvin Scott (s) (Belfast), ❯❯❯❯ The New Zealand under-19 cricket team will contest about past reputations. Shane Sincock (Belfast) the minor placings at the Youth World Cup in the United ‘‘He’s just not playing well Fours: Mike Small (s), (Burnside), Arab Emirates after losing their do-or-die group game enough. He’s been in and out [of Alvin Gardiner (Elmwood), Trevor aganst England by 115 runs yesterday. England reached form], really, which is not what Kennett (Hornby), Paul Matheson 229-8, but New Zealand were never able to get going in we’re expecting.’’ (Hornby) their run chase, slumping to 114 all out. New Zealand Rangiora’s Tony Andrews, who Women: opener Rakitha Weerasundera top-scored with 41. shone at last week’s quadrangular Singles: Sandra Keith (Dunsandel) Canterbury’s Leo Carter, Ken McClure, Kyle Jamieson tournament, has received a call-up Pairs: Mandy Boyd (s) (Burnside), and Jeremy Benton were all in the New Zealand side. in the singles, while Hornby’s Tre- Tayla Bruce (Burnside) vor Kennett will play in the Fours: Bev Morel (s) (Elmwood), Incognito fronts up national intercentre finals for the Sheryl Pearce (Canterbury), first time in the four with skip Sherrie Cottle (Canterbury), Pam ❯❯❯❯ Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito Mike Small, Alvin Gardiner and Phair (Elmwood) apologised yesterday for remarks made last week after Paul Matheson. The pair will con- being named the central figure in a National Football sist of Belfast’s Kelvin Scott and League bullying scandal. A 144-page report following an Shane Sincock. have been grouped with North investigation that lasted more than three months and The Canterbury men won last Harbour, Far North, Hawke’s Bay, included more than 100 interviews found Incognito and week’s quadrangular tournament Wairarapa and Buller, while the two of his team-mates guilty of harassing Jonathan and Joyce was optimistic about the women have Counties Manukau, Martin and another team-mate as well as an assistant potential of the team, given their Thames Valley, Hawke’s Bay, trainer. Incognito had said investigator Ted Wells’ probe mixture of youth and experience. Wairarapa, South Canterbury and could not be independent ‘‘when the NFL paid the person Both men’s and women’s Central Otago in their pool. to do it’’. Incognito offered apologies to Wells, Martin and tournaments are divided into four The national intercentre finals Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. sections. The Canterbury men run from March 27-30.