Ryder in control as Kings succumb
As Jesse Ryder blazed away, Tim Seifert’s record for fastest New Zealand Twenty20 cricket century looked like standing for less than 24 hours.
Ryder flew into gear for Central Stags against Ben Stokes and the Canterbury Kings at Saxton Oval in Nelson, reaching
50 off 19 balls a day after Seifert’s 40-ball ton for the Knights against Auckland Aces in Tauranga.
But Ryder’s onslaught was ended by left-arm spinner Blake Coburn for 84 off 40 balls, including eight fours and six sixes.
It spurred the Stags to an eight-run run victory but not before some tense moments for the hosts as Ryder was so nearly upstaged by Kings gloveman Cam Fletcher.
Fletcher clouted 74 not out off
39 balls – also clearing the rope six times – as the Kings finished
205-6 in reply to the Stags’ 213-5. Both sides now have a win and a loss from their first two matches.
Ryder was on track to beat former Stag Jamie How’s 45-ball mark which was relegated to second-fastest on Saturday night, before he lofted a drive to long-off to put the Kings’ bowlers out of their misery.
Amid an early season runfest which began with back-to-back Plunket Shield centuries, Ryder was near unstoppable with powerful on-drives, pulls and dismissive leg side flicks.
He was backed by captain Will Young who hit 53 off 31 balls to give the home side an imposing total against the Kings, including T20 debutants Coburn and Andrew Hazeldine whose first ball whizzed to the extra cover boundary via Ryder’s bat.
England allrounder Stokes was among those to suffer as