CD’s turn to enjoy batting conditions at Saxton Oval
Short scoreboards
It’s turning into a batsman’s paradise at the Plunket Shield game between Central Districts and Otago at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
Both sides got to enjoy the good batting conditions and at stumps on Sunday, CD were 134-1 after they spent a day and a half in the field as Otago plundered 479-5 declared.
After a massive 227-run partnership on Saturday by Hamish Rutherford, who scored 143, and Brad Wilson, who scored 111, Otago resumed at 302-3.
Neil Broom pushed on from 4 not out overnight to fall agonisingly close to a century when he was caught in the slips off the bowling of left-arm off-spinner Ajaz Patel for 93.
Josh Finnie was 6 not out overnight and scored his third half first-class century with 56.
All of the Otago middle order got starts and Derek de Boorder was on 29 not out when captain Wilson called them in at 479-5 before tea.
Most of the CD bowlers got through big work loads and Patel sent down 43 overs for figures of 2-144. Ben Wheeler bowled fewer overs than the rest of the Stags paceman, bowling just 15 overs.
But there was little joy for the seamers, as Blair Tickner, Ryan McCone and medium pacer Tom Bruce all grabbed a wicket each.
CD then batted for a session and a half and were 134-1 at the close of play. CD lost opener Ben Smith caught behind early for 3 off the bowling of Christi Viljoen.
Smith didn’t agree with the umpire’s decision and stood his ground for a while before marching off. But Nelson’s Greg Hay made the most of batting on his home turf and was on 74 not out. He was joined by Mitch Renwick, playing just his sixth first-class game, and he scored his second half century with 52 not out.
The pair took a cautious approach to see them through to stumps and both will look to push on to big scores on Monday.
Seamer Seth Rance was meant to play for CD in this game, but has been replaced in the starting XI by Blair Tickner and Liam Dudding is now 12th man.
Meanwhile after an opening day of Plunket Shield action that belonged to the batsmen, Auckland seamer Lockie Ferguson has struck back for the bowlers on day two.
Ferguson claimed the first fivewicket haul of the season as Wellington were dismissed for 273 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, finishing with figures of five for 44 from just shy of 20 overs.
His efforts ensured both teams picked up six bonus points from their first innings, while Wellington eked out a four-run lead.
In Christchurch, Canterbury resumed having already piled on 417 runs on the first day, with Todd Astle on 167 and Henry Shipley on 24, and Northern Districts well behind the eight ball.
Shipley fell quickly, leaving Astle to bat with No 11 Ed Nuttall, who finished not out on 0, while Astle made it through to 195 before being run out.