Northern Districts draw level with Central Stags

The Central Stags failed to bat themselves into a dominant position on day two of their Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts yesterday, allowing opposing captain Daniel Flynn to lead a defiant rearguard.

Resuming at 107-2 in their first innings at Seddon Park in Hamilton, the Stags lost nightwatchman Ajaz Patel for 27 in making their way to 173-3 midway through the morning session.

That was when Ben Smith fell, caught by Henry Cooper off the bowling of Ish Sodhi for 27, and from there, they lost six more wickets while adding just 108 runs.

Tom Bruce’s 56 was the lone innings of note as the Stags were dismissed for 281, with Sodhi taking 3-80, Scott Kuggeleijn 2-34, Mitch Santner 2-47 and Daryl Mitchell 2-50.

The Stags’ collapse meant they only opened up an 87-run lead over Northern, who they had dismissed for 194, and by stumps that deficit had been erased, with openers Flynn and Cooper unbeaten on 51 and 41 respectively at stumps with the total 99-0.

The Stags were confirmed as Plunket Shield champions when second-placed Canterbury withdrew from their match against the Wellington Firebirds following last Friday’s terror attack in Christchurch.

In Dunedin, teenage wicketkeeper Max Chu made his highest first-class score as the Otago Volts piled on 483 runs against the Auckland Aces at their University of Oval home – then was out in unusual fashion.

Stepping back to push a ball from offspinner Will Somerville into the leg side, the left-hand batsman trod on his stumps and was out hit wicket for 41.

Seamer Jacob Duffy also made his highest first-class score for the Volts, smashing five sixes on his way to 71 off 53 balls before falling to Somerville as the last man out.

The Aces were 177-6 at stumps, trailing by 306, with Ben Horne 19 not out and Somerville on seven. Glenn Phillips had provided the momentum by making 92.