Davey steps up as Canterbury lead way
No Black Caps, no problems for the inform Canterbury cricket team.
The Plunket Shield leaders made a strong start to their sixth round match against the Central Stags at Rangiora yesterday.
Spearheaded by career-best figures of 5-19 from Sean Davey, Central were rolled for 149.
Anyone who suggested Canterbury might have been vulnerable with Black Caps ODI quartet Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry out of their side would have been disappointed.
Under first-year coach Peter Fulton, the red-and-blacks have thrived in all forms this summer. They won the Ford Trophy one-day competition and narrowly missed out on the T20 Super Smash title, losing the final to Wellington.
Canterbury have been in dominant touch in the Plunket Shield and with two rounds left after this, are in a commanding position to capture their first four-day title since 2017.
Heading into this round, they held a 32-point lead from closest challengers, Northern Districts.
After losing the toss and bowling first, Canterbury would have been thrilled with their efforts with the ball.
Right-arm paceman Davey, in his third first-class match, was outstanding with his 5-19 from 16.1 overs.
Returning quick Ed Nuttall removed George Worker with the sixth ball of the day and the Stags found the going tough from then on.
Canterbury struck regularly, reducing Central to 76-4 at lunch. The wickets continued to tumble with all four seamers used, Nuttall, Davey, Will Williams, and Fraser Sheat generating pressure and putting the ball in challenging areas. Nuttall and Williams both finished with two wickets.
Doug Bracewell provided some lower order resistance after Central had slumped to 108-8, contributing 52.
Central had Canterbury in early trouble at 23-2, ending the day 61-3 with opener Chad Bowes run out for 46 off the last ball from a Ben Smith direct hit.
In the other two matches, which started on Thursday, Troy Johnson led the way for bottom-placed Wellington against Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui.
In his fifth first-class match, Johnson, who captained Wellington in the Ford Trophy, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 79, eclipsing his previous highest score of 33.
Wellington were 282-5 at the close of play, in response to Northern’s first innings total of 246.
Test seamer Neil Wagner was the most threatening Northern bowler, capturing three wickets.
Auckland and Otago finally got under way at 3.30pm on day two after morning rain and a damp outfield delayed play in Invercargill.
Having gone to stumps unbeaten on 92, Auckland captain Robbie O’Donnell brought up his third first-class ton with a straight drive for four.
O’Donnell was eventually run out for 128 as the Aces declared at 351-8. Otago were 39-1 in reply after day two.