CD in control against Canty
Central Districts got off to a strong start in round three of the Plunket Shield first-class cricket competition on Tuesday, with George Worker and Greg Hay scoring centuries against Canterbury at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Black Caps batsman Worker’s first innings of the season for the Central Stags produced a ton as the Central Districts batsmen put the acid on the young Canterbury attack.
Worker, along with opening partner Hay both scored centuries as Central Districts finished the day at 326-3 after captain Will Young won the toss in his 50th match and elected to bat first.
The Central Districts opening partnership produced 188 runs for the first wicket, with Worker the aggressor, raising his seventh first-class century with a six and finishing with 111 off 178 balls.
Hay fell for 140 after putting on 129 runs for the second wicket with Brad Schmulian, who finished the day on 64 not out.
Central Districts 326-3 (G Hay 140, G Worker 111, B Schmulian 64*; T Johnston 1-49, D Sams 1-64, F Sheat 1-91).
AUCKLAND V OTAGO at Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Otago’s Warren Barnes got his first-class career off to a great start, claiming four wickets as the Volts had the Aces’ top order on the back foot early in their Plunket Shield round three fixture.
Barnes, who has represented the Otago Volts in limited overs cricket claimed Michael Guptill-Bunce as his first wicket with just his second ball in first-class cricket on his way to
4-36 from 16 overs as the home team limped to
52-5 at lunch after they were sent in. Volts keeper Derek de Boorder snared four of his five catches in the opening session, before a fightback by the Aces’ middle order got them to 213.
Michael Barry (51) and Ben Horne (56) posted half centuries for the Aces, while Matt McEwan struck an unbeaten 41 before Neil Wagner mopped up the tail with three late wickets.
An impressive display by Auckland opening bowler Lockie Ferguson with 4-12 from eight overs saw Otago struggle to 83-5 at stumps on day one.
Auckland 213 (B Horne 56, M Barry 51, M McEwan 41*; W Barnes 4-36, N Wagner 3-42, J Nessham 2-27) Otago 83-5 (H Rutherford 23, A Kitchen 15*, D de Boorder 14*).
NORTHERN DISTRICTS V WELLINGTON at Seddon Park, Hamilton
A patient 97 off 203 balls from Wellington’s Stephen Murdoch has left Wellington in a comfortable position against Northern Districts. Murdoch combined with Michael Bracewell (48) for a crucial 112-run third wicket partnership after Northern Districts won the toss and bowled first.
Luke Woodcock also scored a half century opening the batting as the competition frontrunners continued to frustrate the Northern Districts bowlers.
Brent Arnel picked up 3-61, while Scott Kuggeleijn and James Baker picked up two wickets each for the home team.
Wellington 322-7 (S Murdoch 97, L Woodcock 61, M Bracewell 48, T Blundell 33; B Arnel 3-61, J Baker 2-63, S Kuggeleijn 2-83).
Points heading into round three: Wellington 40, Central Districts 25, Canterbury 23, Otago Volts 21, Northern Districts 12, Auckland Aces 7.