Central win with final-day chase

CENTRAL Districts have kept in touch with Wellington at the top of the Plunket Shield table, after completing a touch-and-go run chase against Otago in Dunedin yesterday.

Chasing 332 to win at University Oval, they got there with two wickets and a tick under six overs to spare, and remain in second, 13 points behind the runaway leaders, and 20 ahead of third-placed Auckland.

Will Young and Ross Taylor played the starring roles, combining for a 166-run stand for the third wicket, but those who came in after them still had plenty to do.

Young made 83 before he was stumped off the bowling of offspinner Mark Craig, while Taylor was bowled for 90 by James Duffy.

Duffy was the pick of the bowlers for Otago, who only added 16 runs to their overnight score of 161-5 when play resumed yesterday.

They appeared to be taking a score-or-get-out approach, with a declaration always imminent, and Central bowlers Adam Milne and Ajaz Patel both picked up fivewicket bags – 5-64 and 5-68 respectively.

Duffy finished with 5-59, but didn’t receive enough support from his fellow bowlers.

When he dismissed Taylor, swinging one in and sending the middle stump flying shortly after tea, Central still needed 124 from 28 overs.

He then dismissed Tom Bruce in almost identical fashion, but wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver hit back to halt Central’s wobbles.

Batting with Jesse Ryder, who was content to play the anchor role, he whacked 56 off just 45 balls before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Michael Rae.

Adam Milne came and went for six, lbw to Duffy, and Otago were back in with a sniff, before Navin Patel followed Cleaver’s lead, hitting five fours in his 26-ball 26.

Navin Patel was caught behind with five still required, and with Ajaz Patel facing five balls from Duffy, a Central win, a tie, and an Otago win were all possible.

The offspinner managed a two, however, then a single to end the over, and down the other end, he pulled Rae’s first delivery for four to seal the win.

Ryder was not out on 31 off 54, and his faith in his tailenders was rewarded.

In the other fourth-round matches, Wellington and Auckland eased to big wins over Canterbury and ND. Otago 513 & 177 (Hamish Rutherford 39, Jimmy Neesham 36, Neil Broom 30; Adam Milne 5-64, Ajaz Patel 5-68) lost to Central Districts 359 & 334-8 (Ross Taylor 90, Will Young 83, Dane Cleaver 56, Jesse Ryder 31no; Jacob Duffy 5-59)

Wellington 76, Central Districts 63, Auckland 43, Otago 33, Canterbury 29, Northern Districts 21.