Nethula leads Aces over Stags
Central Stags batsman Tom Bruce backed up his dubbing New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park as a ‘‘batsman’s paradise’’ with his seventh domestic List A half century against the Auckland Aces on Sunday.
However, it was the Aces attack who revelled at the ground - leading their side to a five-wicket win in the opening round of the Ford Trophy one-day cricket competition on the back of Tarun Nethula’s four-wicket haul.
Before Nethula got stuck in, it was a baptism by fire of sorts for debutant Ben Lister, who was asked to open the bowling alongside veteran right-arm paceman Mitchell McClenaghan at a ground known for its short boundaries.
It took an edge through third slip and to the boundary in the third over to get the Stags going, but once the first runs were on the board, opening batsmen Ben Smith and Dane Cleaver got into their work - taking to Lister in his second over.
The pair looked like they were getting set in, but it wasn’t to be as
McClenaghan claimed Cleaver (10) for the first wicket in the fifth over before Lister claimed his first scalp five overs later when Smith departed for 23.
Losing a wicket every five overs became a theme for the Stags, who lost captain Will Young (8) in the 10th over before Jesse Ryder - who looked in good form - was triggered LBW for 30 in the 15th. Ryder clearly didn’t agree with the call, walking down the wicket and applauding the umpire before making his way to the sheds.
Josh Clarkson fell four over later to leave the side 104-5 and in serious need of a solid partnership to steady things. Tom Bruce and Doug Bracewell obliged, bringing up their 50-run partnership from
44 balls before Bracewell (38) lost his middle stump to Matt McEwan.
Bruce (56) was the only batsman to carry on from his start, bringing up his half century before being Nethula’s third victim of the afternoon.
The tail showed some life, but the Aces bowlers put their team firmly in control of the tilt, dismissing the Stags for 224.
With a very achievable target set, the visitors got into their work - scoring around four runs per over in the early going. The Stags attack got their tails up in the eighth over though, when Ben Wheeler got Michael Guptill-Bunce caught behind for 12.
After Guptill-Bunce departed, fellow opener Colin Munro looked to try lift the run-rate, scoring a quick 39 before falling to Blair Tickner. His lead was followed by Glenn Phillips who, together with Craig Cachopa, added to the scoreboard. The pair put on a
64-run partnership before Phillips (48) was caught on the boundary, however it set the platform for the team to reward their bowlers by finishing off the win.