Stags look to put the squeeze on
The Central Stags know what they have to do to record their first win of the 50-over Ford Trophy competition: score more runs and create more pressure.
The Stags take on the Wellington Firebirds at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, today for the second time in three days after three losses from three matches.
It seemed the Stags, in making 261-9 batting first on Sunday, were 20 runs short of being competitive, and so it proved.
It could have been a different story without classy Wellington 20-year-old Jakob Bhula’s knock guiding his team home with 10 balls to spare.
Stags veteran George Worker had a good match, making 52 and picking up two wickets with his left-arm spin.
‘‘After the game everybody was pretty frustrated,’’ he said.
‘‘We got off to a nice start, but were unable to kick on to 300, which we had in our sights pretty easily.
‘‘At the same time, 260 on a wicket that was slowing up a touch was competitive.’’
Worker said Wellington’s fast start, reaching 50 in six overs, meant the Firebirds weren’t facing run-rate pressure.
Stags spinner Jayden Lennox bowled tightly, going for just 28 in 10 overs and picking up a couple of wickets. But the Stags were unable to make the regular breakthroughs needed to create panic in the Wellington dressing room.
Wellington needed to score about seven runs an over for the final 10 of the innings and Worker said anything under eight an over was hard to defend, especially at a quick-scoring ground such as Fitzherbert Park.
‘‘We just weren’t able to build that pressure. We won’t be focusing just on Bhula, more on ourselves and trying to build pressure.’’
And although the Stags are yet to record a win, Worker has been in fine form in the one-day competition, making 125 and 33 against Otago to go with his halfcentury on Sunday.
He was frustrated not to make more runs after his good start against Wellington, but said he was happy with where his game was at.
Bhula, who finished 97 not out off 114 balls, said his maiden century wasn’t on his mind as he focused on Wellington’s first win of the competition.
‘‘I was feeling a bit rusty early on, but I was just trying to assess the conditions and the pace of the wicket. Looking at how they played, they took their time early on, so I was just looking to build on that.
‘‘On Tuesday it will probably be a bit tougher with the slower wicket, but that’s something we’ll have to look at.’’
He praised his team-mates’ performance in the field and the bowling of leg-spinner Peter Younghusband, who put the squeeze on after the Stags’ strong start.
The Central bowling today is expected to be boosted by the return of international Blair Tickner.
The Manawatu¯ Cricket Association is busing in and organising activities for school children during the match, which starts at 11am. Admission is free.