Central Districts grab shield lead

Central Districts have taken the lead in the Plunket Shield with two rounds remaining.

The Stags scored an innings victory over the Otago Volts in Napier yesterday to grab a 12-point advantage at the top of the domestic firstclass cricket competition table.

The defending champions wrapped up the win without having to bat again, while Canterbury scored a nine-wicket victory over Wellington in Christchurch and previous leaders Auckland drew with Northern Districts in Whangarei.

Otago trailed CD by 340 runs on the first innings at McLean Park after the Stags’ first three batsmen all made first-innings tons.

Resuming at 124-1 in their second dig following on yesterday, Otago’s innings was based around 99 from opener Hamish Rutherford. He was the sixth man out, with the score at 197, when caught by Will Young off the bowling of Ben Wheeler.

The Stags’ attack was led by spinner Ajaz Patel. The left-armer, who starred on his test debut for New Zealand against Pakistan late last year, captured 4-84 off 35 overs as the hosts chipped away at the opposition.

Nathan Smith made an unbeaten 75 from 86 balls at No 7 and added 73 for the last wicket with Warren Barnes (34 off 59 balls) before Doug Bracewell ended the visitors’ resistance and gave Central Districts maximum points.

Canterbury moved into third place, just a point behind Auckland and 13 shy of CD, easily chasing down their second innings target yesterday at Hagley Oval.

Wellington resumed their second innings at 153-6, still trailing Canterbury by 22 runs after following on.

But the visiting tail fought hard, with Ollie Newton’s dogged 68 off 232 balls – his highest first-class score – at No 8 leading the way. Logan van Beek made 51 at No 7 as Wellington made 301 after being 78-6 on day three.

Black Caps one-day seamer Matt Henry took 4-64, giving him match figures of 9-110, while fellow new-ball exponent Ed Nuttall captured 3-76.

In pursuit of 127 for victory, Canterbury went without any notable hiccup, as opener Stephen Murdoch made an unbeaten 62 off 75 balls, featuring 12 boundaries.

The other round six encounter between Auckland and ND fizzled out to a draw at Cobham Oval in Whangarei.