Weather rains on Central’s batting parade

Rain was the only thing that could dampen magnificent centuries from Central Districts batsmen George Worker and Ben Smith.

Worker scored 135 and Smith hit 100 as CD plundered 349-4 batting first against Canterbury at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North yesterday in the first round of the domestic one-day competition.

But rain intervened just three overs into Canterbury’s innings and, after a lengthy wait, play was abandoned just after 5pm.

It was Worker’s 12th list A century and second at his home ground.

It was Smith’s first one-day hundred for CD and continues a good run of scores for the Whanganui man in Palmerston North, having scored 82, 57, 74 and 47 not out in his four previous innings at the ground.

Worker’s 135 came from 124 balls and he hit 17 fours and three sixes, while Smith’s century came from 88 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.

Worker was happy to play well in front of his family.

‘‘It was really pleasing to start the white-ball campaign like that. When I woke up this morning it was bucketing down with rain while I was lying in bed so I didn’t really expect to have a first innings like that.

‘‘It was really pleasing and I’m really pleased for Ben Smith to get his first list A hundred. It was nice to help him along there for a while.’’

Worker said with 350 on the board CD knew the game wasn’t over, but they backed themselves to defend it.

Worker praised the work done by groundsman Andy May to produce a belter of a wicket that had something in it for the bowlers.

Worker, who had a century in the Plunket Shield under his belt, felt he had been hitting the ball nicely this season, but hadn’t capitalised on the starts he’d had.

CD openers Worker and Dane Cleaver got the Stags off to a strong start, with Worker in particular in a bullish mood, hitting three consecutive fours in the first over.

The pair put on an opening stand of 80 before Cleaver was out to a sharp catch in the covers by