Ryder blitzes Kings bowlers
As Jesse Ryder blazed away, Tim Seifert’s record for fastest New Zealand Twenty20 cricket century looked like standing for less than 24 hours.
Ryder flew into gear for Central Stags against Ben Stokes and the Canterbury Kings at Saxton Oval in Nelson, reaching 50 off 19 balls a day after Seifert’s 40-ball ton for the Knights against Auckland Aces in Tauranga.
But Ryder’s onslaught was ended by left-arm spinner Blake Coburn for 84 off 40 balls, including eight fours and six sixes.
It spurred the Stags to an eightrun run victory but not before some tense moments for the hosts as Ryder was so nearly upstaged by Kings gloveman Cam Fletcher.
Fletcher clouted 74 not out off 39 balls - also clearing the rope six times - as the Kings finished 205-6 in reply to the Stags’ 213-5. Both sides now have a win and a loss from their first two matches.
Ryder was on track to beat former Stag Jamie How’s 45-ball mark which was relegated to second-fastest on Saturday night, before he lofted a drive to long-off to put the Kings’ bowlers out of their misery.
Amid an early season runfest which began with back-to-back Plunket Shield centuries, Ryder
(Jesse Ryder 84 off 40, Will Young 53 off 31; Andrew Ellis 2-28 off 3) beat
(Cam Fletcher 74 off 39, Cole McConchie 54 off 37; Seth Rance 2-37 off 4, Blair Tickner 2-37 off 4) by 8 runs. was near unstoppable with powerful on-drives, pulls and dismissive leg side flicks.
He was backed by captain Will Young who hit 53 off 31 balls to give the home side an imposing total.
England allrounder Stokes was among those to suffer as Ryder upper cut his third ball over third man for six.
After blasting 93 off 47 balls in the Kings’ big win over Otago, Stokes conceded 42 off four wicketless overs and scored 17 off 10 with the bat. He charged Bevan Small and hit a catch to long-on.
The Kings looked gone before Fletcher and Cole McConchie got together to add 116 in 11 overs for the fifth wicket.
McConchie hit 54 off 37 to have them on track but when Blair Tickner bowled him the momentum shifted again.
Canterbury needed 20 off the final over bowled by Ben Wheeler and it was too tough despite Fletcher’s unbeaten onslaught.