Latham’s century not enough to deny CD

Central Districts held on for an 18-run victory over Canterbury in the T20 Super Smash despite a stunning century by Black Cap Tom Latham.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Will Young, Dean Foxcroft and Tom Bruce all scored rapid-fire half-centuries as the Stags set a total of 225-3 at McLean Park in Napier on Saturday.

That looked to be more than enough until Latham, who had plenty of assistance from Cole McConchie (48 off 25 balls), hit his stride.

The Canterbury opener nearly pulled off a great escape as he smashed 110 off just 60 balls, including 10 fours and six sixes.

He reached the final over with the visitors needing a nearimpossible 33 to win but gave them faint hope when he scored 10 runs off the first two Ajaz Patel deliveries.

However, the third went straight to Young as last-placed Canterbury finished on 207-4 with still only one win for the season.

In the first innings, they wouldn’t have envisaged such a difficult day in the field after Matt Henry removed CD opener George Worker with the third ball of the match.

Young and Foxcroft soon got the run-rate ticking over nicely, though, to put the pressure right back on the Canterbury bowlers.

The pair put on 109 for the second

At a glance

Points (games played): wicket before Foxcroft was dismissed for 50 (off 36 balls) by Kyle Jamieson in the 12th over

That brought Tom Bruce to the crease, who continued his stellar campaign by sending the ball to all areas of McLean Park.

The competition’s highest runscorer this season finished with 71 off just 30 deliveries, including nine fours and three sixes.

He was bowled by Henry in the final over but not before completing another 100 partnership with Young, who carried his bat and top-scored with 89no.

Young smashed eight fours and three sixes in his impressive knock, which came off 50 balls.

CD remain in second place on the table, six points Northern Districts.

Meanwhile yesterday, the Auckland Aces opened up a fourpoint gap between themselves and the Otago Volts, after beating the southerners at Eden Park Outer Oval.

Aces captain Craig Cachopa made 73 off 38 balls to help them post 183-4 after being sent in, and though the Volts took a while to get going in their chase, they lost by just four runs after a late flurry by Englishman Ben Raine, who made 33 off 18.

With the win, the Aces have cemented themselves in third, the final playoff spot, with 16 points, followed by the Volts on 12, and the Wellington Firebirds on 10. behind