Cairns says Goodbye in Style

Chris Cairns has put in a man of the match performance in his last outing for his province, leading Canterbury to a five wicket win over Central Districts in New Zealand’s domestic final, the State Shield, at QEII Park in Christchurch.

Earlier on in the day Canterbury won the toss and Captain Chris Harris inserted Central Districts in on a slow, flat wicket. His opening bowlers backed that decision up when they got the key wicket of Jamie How early.

How could only manage five runs from 13 balls before he was out cutting off the bowling of Cairns, who should have had his second soon after with Peter Fulton at second slip putting Ross Taylor down when he was still in single figures.

Taylor began to make the Wizards pay, putting on 31 quick runs for the second wicket with Geoff Barnett before Cairns claimed his second scalp, nicking out Barnett for eight with the score at 41.

That brought discarded BLACK CAPS batsman Matthew Sinclair to the crease. He and Taylor smashed 43 off seven overs before Nathan Astle got rid of the dangerous Taylor the ball after he brought up his half century. It was an entertaining knock that further emphasized young Taylor’s potential. His 50 came off just 39 balls and he looked as though he was going to tear the Canterbury attack to pieces before he got a little ahead of himself and was out dragging a length ball from Astle back onto his stumps.

Sinclair looked to continue the big hitting after Taylor was dismissed, taking 18 off one Chris Harris over, (the 22nd) and bringing up Central’s 100 in the process. He was unfortunately run-out soon after by Chris Cairns, bringing to an end a promising innings (37 off 41).

Jared Englefield and Bevan Griggs progressed Central’s score through to 181 before Englefield wore a Chris Cairns bouncer on the side of his head and had to retire hurt with his score at 42.

Brendan Diamanti didn’t last long, holding out to Nathan Astle in the deep for one, off the bowling of Craig McMillan. Griggs soon followed, Chris Cairns knocking his off stump out of the ground and ending his gutsy innings of 42 from 71.

Central Districts struggled to accelerate their run rate in the final ten overs despite having six wickets in hand at the start of the 40th over. Canterbury bowled a disciplined line and length and the wickets continued to fall. Shane Bond out thought Ewen Thompson and Cairns was too crafty for Greg Hegglun as the Stags finished up on 212/8 off their 50 overs.

In reply Canterbury lost Brendon McCullum early for seven, but Nathan Astle (39) and Michael Papps (28) steadied the ship by putting on 66 for the second wicket. Papps looked at ease out in the middle until he nicked one to first slip off Michael Mason.

Astle followed soon after, edging one to keeper Griggs off the bowling of Diamanti, and suddenly there was a sense of panic in the Canterbury ranks with the score at 80/3.

Peter Fulton and Craig McMillan got things back on track and brought up the Canterbury hundred in the 17th over before McMillan fell for 14. Fulton (26) soon followed and Central were back in it.

But it was man of the match Chris Cairns and Canterbury’s day. Cairns (41) and Shannon Stewart (36) came together and put on an unbeaten 77 run partnership to see Canterbury home with 15 overs to spare. Fittingly Cairns, in his last match for Canterbury, hit the winning runs with a massive six as the Wizards wrapped the game and the State Shield up with five wickets in hand.

Congratulations to the Canterbury Wizards, State Shield Champions 2005/06 and to Chris Cairns, a truly magnificent servant of New Zealand cricket, for finishing his domestic career the way he deserved to.

Central Districts – 212/8 (50)
Ross Taylor 50 (40), Matthew Sinclair 37 (41)
Chris Cairns 4/53, Shane Bond 1/31

Canterbury won by 5 wickets

Canterbury – 214/5 (35.2)
Chris Cairns 41*, Nathan Astle 39
Brendan Diamanti 2/22

Cricket Web Man of the Match:
Chris Cairns 41*(33) 4/53(10)