New Zealand’s Academy side has given itself every chance of wrapping up a victory over the Queensland Academy of Sport just after lunch tomorrow in their game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval
Lynn McConnell07-Nov-2001New Zealand’s Academy side has given itself every chance of wrapping up a victory over the Queensland Academy of Sport just after lunch tomorrow in their game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.New Zealand’s tail wagged today in a big way as Craig Pryor and Luke Woodcock enjoyed a 125-run partnership for the eighth wicket.Their 100 runs were passed in 118 minutes with Pryor bringing up his half-century in 123 minutes off 121 balls.It was a patient innings by Pryor and a fine scene setter for him with the new domestic season just around the corner.He and Woodcock were able to take advantage of some disappointing Queensland fielding both in the air and along the ground on what was a batsman-friendly pitch.The partnership was finally broken when on 84 Pryor mishit a slog-sweep to square leg to give Matthew Anderson his first wicket in his 31st over. He had seen the New Zealand Academy to a 49-run lead. Woodcock continued to achieve his half-century off 115 balls.Brent Hefford, who was initially missed by Chris Hartley for a stumping opportunity off Scott O’Leary, was run out when the keeper removed the bails from a return by Brendan Nash while Hefford remained stationery with his back foot still out of his crease.New Zealand declared at lunch with the total 382/9 off 122 overs, a lead of 63. Woodcock was unbeaten on 53.Hefford backed up his first innings five wickets by removing Lance Kahler in his second over when he edged to slip. Hefford’s first five overs were again accurate as he finished with one for nine.Worse was to follow as the Queenslanders slumped to 31/3 after 15 overs.Craig Philipson struggled to find his feet before being caught behind off Taraia Robin for a duck. Four batsmen had been dismissed with the total still in arrears by 12 runs.Robin had two for seven off his first five overs.Captain Nash brought some urgency to the Queensland situation by use of deft placement, clever running between the wickets and severe punishment of the loose ball. Woodcock, the left-arm spinner, was punished to the point where he was forced out of the attack after two overs.Nash brought up his entertaining half-century in 81 minutes off 54 balls, with eight fours and one six, just after the tea break. He and Allan Rowe continued to build a sizeable partnership as they wrested the initiative from the New Zealand bowlers. They brought up their century partnership in 101 minutes off 146 balls, with Nash the dominant partner and Rowe providing the ideal support role.Then Woodcock settled into his more productive second spell by disposing of Rowe with the first ball, when he had a catch taken at mid on to a mistimed lofted drive. The pair had added 109 runs.In the next over Nash departed to an edge off Chris Harris to wicket keeper Brendon McCullum, who was deputising for an injured Reece Young. The total suddenly became precarious at 160/6, a lead of 97 with four wickets remaining.All Queensland’s hard work to get back in the game was undone however, when they lost four wickets without adding a run.With the total becalmed on 160 Woodcock bowled Hartley for a duck, when he failed to play a shot.Then in the following over Harris had O’Leary caught under the helmet by a jubilant Nick Horsley.Woodcock dropped a caught and bowled opportunity off Damien Mackenzie with the first ball in his next over and then the batsman defiantly struck the second ball over midwicket for six and he followed this up with two other boundaries in the over.Harris showed his athletic ability when he dived horizontally at cover to catch Boyd Williams off Woodcock. One could not hope to see a better catch. The total had plummeted to 183/9.Harris had Mackenzie caught at deep midwicket to see the conclusion of a major collapse where the last six wickets fell in 32 minutes off 47 balls. Slow bowlers Harris (3-25) and Woodcock (3-29) were the major beneficiaries from a disappointing batting effort from the visitors.New Zealand’s target for the victory was 121. Three of those runs were reduced before stumps with Jamie How and McCullum at the crease.