Stags, Firebirds in two-horse race

A gripping battle between cricketing neighbours Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags looms when the Plunket Shield resumes in March.

Guided home by an innings of 85 not out by opener Greg Hay, the Stags cruised to a seven-wicket victory over the Firebirds in Nelson yesterday in a match that only just made it to a third day.

It left the Firebirds - who won their first four straight - clinging to a one-point lead over their nearest rivals, with focus now switching to white ball cricket on the domestic scene till March 1.

Auckland are 20 points behind the Stags in third after they completed their own threeday win, over Canterbury by 24 runs at Eden Park’s Outer Oval.

CD v WELLINGTON

Needing just 54 more to win at the start of day three, Hay and nightwatchman Ajaz Patel (34 not out) did the job in their chase for 172.

Remarkably, 172 was the total in the final three innings after Wellington were skittled for 171 on day one, and the Stags took a first innings lead of one run.

Seamer Blair Tickner was the early destroyer for the Stags, taking New Zealand’s 41st firstclass hat-trick in his first innings haul of 4-45.

He ended with six wickets for the match, while left-armer Ben Wheeler was excellent in his first match back from a long injury layoff.

Swinging the ball at pace, Wheeler had match figures of 5-83 while another Black Cap who is looking to make a return to international cricket, Doug Bracewell, snared 5-64 for the match.

Matt Taylor’s knock of 49 was the only significant contribution for Wellington in their second innings.

Without the injured Ollie Newton they were down on bowling firepower as the Stags chased down their target comfortably.

AUCKLAND v CANTERBURY

Black Caps Twenty20 wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips showcased his all-round talent to help the Aces sneak home in a tense finish.

A day after notching his second first-class century, 104 off 102 balls to help set Canterbury 316 to win, he unveiled some rarely seen off-spin talent to snare some vital wickets.

Phillips ended with 3-45 off 14 overs, including the big wickets of Cole Mcconchie for 42 and Cameron Fletcher for 53 which turned momentum Auckland’s way.

A brilliant leg side catch by wicketkeeper Ben Horne accounted for Mcconchie and a sharp grab at mid-on by Ben Lister made Fletcher the ninth wicket to fall and saw the visitors’ hopes plummet.

Five of Canterbury’s topseven reached 30 but No 4 Leo Carter’s knock of 63 was their best, as they badly needed a batting anchor.

Captain Andrew Ellis, batting at No 10, gave them a glimmer of hope before he holed out charging at Lister and Auckland were celebrating.

OTAGO v ND

Otago need 329 more on the final day with all 10 wickets standing to keep Northern Districts anchored to the foot of the ladder.

Set 344 to win, Otago openers Brad Wilson and Hamish Rutherford got through eight overs without loss against Northern’s best two bowlers Ish Sodhi and Brent Arnel by the close of day three.

Having led by 208 on the first innings, thank to Tim Seifert’s 167 not out and a combined nine wickets between Arnel (5-76) and Sodhi (4-75), Northern needed quick runs to set up a tough chase for the hosts.

Seamer Jacob Duffy (5-49) and left-arm wrist spinner Michael Rippon (4-30) had other ideas as they crippled Northern’s second innings to 135-9 before captain Daniel Flynn declared.

The visitors, the only side yet to record a win, are still in the box seat given the rate wickets tumbled on days two and three.