Canterbury frustrate Central on day two

Plunket Shield strugglers Canterbury continue to cause problems for competition leaders Central Districts.

Boosted by the addition of Black Cap test squad members Matt Henry and Todd Astle, Canterbury impressed again on day two at Rangiora, and might just be smelling an upset victory.

Defending four-day champions Central were 106-3 in their second innings at stumps yesterday, giving them a lead of 87 runs.

Wet weather could have the ultimate say, with the forecast not flash for the Canterbury region over the weekend.

Gunning for just their second win of the season, Canterbury got through to 280 in their first innings, in response to Central’s 261.

The hosts were in trouble at 99-5 when Stephen Murdoch was caught off Doug Bracewell, but wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher and Henry Shipley added valuable runs.

Fletcher contributed 60 from 111 balls, while Shipley hit nine fours in his 56. Astle, who made 16, and Fletcher added 51 for the sixth wicket. Fletcher then teamed up with Shipley to put on 52 for the seventh wicket.

Canterbury made early inroads with the ball in Central’s second dig with quicks Henry, Shipley and Andrew Hazeldine all striking in the first 10 overs to leave the Stags 52-3.

Opener George Worker (50 not out) and Dane Cleaver (33 not out) combined for an important 54-run unbroken fourth wicket partnership to end the day with confidence.

Two-wicket efforts from Sean Solia and Matt McEwan have Auckland on top against Otago.

After making 337 in their first innings, Auckland had the Volts 147-5 when stumps was called early on day two due to rain.

Opener Hamish Rutherford and Josh Tasman-Jones were building a handy second wicket partnership for Otago after Cam Hawkins fell in the seventh over for 10.

Rutherford was bowled for 52 by Solia who struck again four overs later with TasmanJones ❚ Central Districts 261 and 106-3 (George Worker 50no, Dane Cleaver 33no) met Canterbury 280 (Cam Fletcher 60, Henry Shipley 56, Stephen Murdoch 56; Seth Rance 4-67).

At Mainpower Oval, Rangiora:

At Eden Park outer oval, Auckland:

out hooking, caught in the deep. That left Otago 118-3, which was followed by further breakthroughs from McEwan and Jamie Brown. Otago trail Auckland by 190 runs on the first innings.

Rain dominated day two at the Basin Reserve with only 31 overs possible.

Wellington declared at an imposing 400-5, anchored by an unbeaten 156 from South African-born Devon Conway, the Plunket Shield’s leading run scorer.

Conway is officially a ‘qualifying player’, which allowed him to be contracted by the Firebirds. The 27-year-old is eligible to represent the Black Caps as a New Zealand resident after three years in the country in September, 2020, and the left-hander is someone national coach Gary Stead will be keeping a close eye on.

He added 10 runs to his overnight score before captain Hamish Bennett called him and Logan van Beek back to the dressing room. Van Beek hit 52 not out from 66 balls.

Northern Districts got through to 81-1 before wet weather intervened with Tim Seifert unbeaten on 42 and Henry Cooper there on 37, still trailing Wellington by 319 runs on the first innings.

ND got off to a dreadful start when Bennett bowled captain Daniel Flynn for a duck with the fifth ball of the innings.