Hollow ring to Stags’ title

Central Stags’ pace attack added an exclamation mark to their imminent Plunket Shield cricket title as the competition resumed under a pall yesterday.

Two matches in the final round got under way in Hamilton and Dunedin, but the Wellington match was cancelled after Canterbury withdrew in the wake of Friday’s terrorist attacks in Christchurch.

Canterbury Cricket chief executive Jeremy Curwin said the team showed a ‘‘united front’’ in its decision, which effectively ensured competition leaders the Stags would win back-to-back titles.

Black Caps Martin Guptill and Lockie Ferguson both withdrew from Auckland’s match in Dunedin, with Auckland Cricket high performance manager Simon Insley saying both ‘‘felt personally uncomfortable making the trip to Dunedin given the events in Christchurch’’.

On the field, the Stags showed their class again to dismiss Northern Districts for 194 with Doug Bracewell leading the way with the ball. Bracewell ended with figures of 4-46.

Ryan McCone (3-21) also continued his late season form as Black Caps World Cup squad contender Tim Seifert (57) topscored for the hosts.

At stumps the Stags were in the box seat, 107-2 in reply after George Worker scored 52. He was dismissed by spinner Mitchell Santner late in the day.

In Dunedin, former Stag Mitch Renwick marked his 21st firstclass match with his maiden century as Otago took day-one honours over the Aces.

Renwick batted a tick under four hours for his 131 as the Volts reached 320-6 at stumps after being sent in to bat. With a previous best score of 71 this was a timely knock from Renwick, who hit 19 fours and a six, before he was dismissed by left-armer Ben Lister. Renwick and Brad Wilson (71) added the key partnership for the hosts with 185 for the third wicket.

Lister had the most success for Auckland with 3-46.