Fractured thumb no barrier to Ferguson
It seems a cracked bone in a cricketer’s hand isn’t enough to keep them down these days.
Auckland fast bowler Lockie Ferguson suffered what was reported as a broken thumb after being struck on the hand while batting last week, but backed up at Eden Park for their round three match against Otago.
Ferguson snared career-best figures of 7-34 on day two yesterday, including his 100th firstclass wicket.
He followed the example of Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis who played the last two rounds with a broken bone in his hand, which even saw him bat one-handed at No 11.
AUCKLAND v OTAGO
Ferguson faced just two deliveries batting at No 11 for Auckland with his tender right thumb, and was shown no mercy by Neil Wagner who removed him with a short pitched delivery.
Clearly it fired up the Black Caps contracted speedster who tore through Otago’s batting in 15 devastating overs, including first-ballers for captain and former team-mate Rob Nicol and Black Cap Mark Craig.
Former Auckland batsman Anaru Kitchen was the best of the visitors with 43. With Otago skittled for 170 it gave Auckland a handy 43-run first innings lead at their beloved Eden Park.
They built on that strongly late on the second day after captain Michael Guptill-Bunce (29) and test opener Jeet Raval (28) couldn’t kick on.
Robbie O’Donnell reached his half-century just before the close and allrounder Sean Solia, the New Zealand A callup back from injury, looked the part at No 4. He ended the day 43 not out, the pair having added 92 unbroken and Auckland’s lead out to 205.
ND v WELLINGTON
Early pacesetters Wellington had the upper hand halfway through their match as Northern Districts struggled to get within sight of the Firebirds’ first innings of 380.
With Wellington’s accurate bowling attack headed by Black Caps aspirant Hamish Bennett snaring regular wickets, Northern reached 237-7 at the close with Dean Brownlie topscoring with 82.
Wellington added 58 to their overnight score with Fraser Colson last out for 52, as veteran seamer Brent Arnel snared his wicket for his 15th bag of five wickets. ❚ Auckland 213 and 162-2 (Robbie O’Donnell 55no, Sean Solia 43no) v Otago 170 (Anaru Kitchen 43, Neil Wagner 39no; Lockie Ferguson 7-34, Danru Ferns 2-33).
❚ Wellington 380 (Stephen Murdoch 97, Luke Woodcock 61, Fraser Colson 52, Michael Bracewell 48, Tom Blundell 33; Brent Arnel 5-73, James Baker
3-78, Scott Kuggeleijn 2-108) v Northern Districts 237-7 (Dean Brownlie 82, Henry Cooper 48, Anton Devcich 43; Ollie Newton
2-50, Loan van Beek 2-51, Hamish Bennett 2-64).
❚ Central Districts 498-7 dec (Greg Hay 140, George Worker
111, Jesse Ryder 89, Brad Schmulian 74, Dane Cleaver 34, Doug Bracewell 33no; Daniel Sams 2-97, Tim Johnston 2-102, Fraser Sheat 2-123) v Canterbury
98-4 (Ken McClure 36, Michael Pollard 30no; Blair Tickner 2-19, Seth Rance 2-23).
His 5-73 came off 34.2 overs. Ollie Newton shared Northern captain Daniel Flynn cheaply then Bennett made two key incisions: Bharat Popli (14) and the dangerous Tim Seifert (12) to give the hosts the wobbles.
Brownlie batted three hours for his 82 before his castle was disturbed by Newton, and Anton Devcich couldn’t kick on with Logan van Beek nicked him off for 43. Once again, the Firebirds have control.
CANTERBURY v CD
Jesse Ryder flexed his batting muscles again, and the seamers did the job late to leave Central Districts in the box seat in Christchurch.
At stumps Canterbury were teetering at 98-4 in reply to the Stags’ imposing 498-7 declared.
After day one centuries from Greg Hay and the returning George Worker, Ryder strode out on a rain-interrupted day two to add the icing.
Ryder cracked a 40-ball halfcentury and scored 89 off 89 balls in all, including 10 fours and two sixes. Ryder added 68 with Dane Cleaver and 70 with Doug Bracewell before captain Will Young put Canterbury’s bowlers out of their misery.
Seth Rance snared openers Chad Bowes and Leo Carter in his first four overs then Blair Tickner’s double strike capped another top day for the visitors. He had dangerman Ken McClure caught for 36 then Cole McConchie lbw third ball, leaving Michael Pollard (30 not out) a decent rescue job.