Stags win to take top spot

Central Districts have overtaken Wellington Firebirds at the top of the Plunket Shield points table heading into the final round.

The Stags claimed a comprehensive outright victory over Canterbury in Napier yesterday, taking them to 127 points, four more than the Firebirds, who were thrashed by Northern Districts in this round.

Wellington haven’t won the first class title since 2004 and will need to right their ship in the final round if they are to claim the $75,000 for winning the competition.

The Stags took the maximum 20 points for beating Canterbury, who resumed their second innings on 58-2, still requiring a further 205 to make the Stags bat again.

They lost Jeff Case to a run out at the start of the day and while Cole Mcconchie (63) and Ken Mcclure (45) combined for a 104-run partnership, the writing was on the wall.

The Canterbury middle order

and tail failed to cope with the spin of Ajaz Patel, who took his 15th first-class five-wicket bag with 5-67.

Patel’s seven wickets in the match also saw him reclaim his perch as the leading wickettaker of the season with 42 wickets. He has been the top wicket-taker in the Plunket Shield for the past two seasons, putting him on course for a rare personal three-peat.

Canterbury were all out for 205, giving the Stags a win by an innings and 58 runs.

In the crucial final round matches beginning on Monday, the Stags play Northern Districts in Napier, while the Firebirds play the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval. In the other game, the Otago Volts host Canterbury in Dunedin.