Ryder, Munro blast tons

It was a day for the big hitting lefthanders in the Ford Trophy, as Jesse Ryder and Colin Munro both scored centuries.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS NORTHERN DISTRICTS

Jesse Ryder blasted 10 fours and three sixes on his way to 107 from

106 balls as Central had a big win over Northern in Whangarei.

Ryder joined George Worker at the crease in the sixth over of the innings and the pair combined for a 205-run partnership to put CD in control.

Worker fell just shy of his century in the 40th over, scoring 96 from 115 balls, with Ryder gone the following over for 107.

Tom Bruce (27) and Doug Bracewell (43) then provided a boost in the final 10 overs to get Central to an imposing 334-8 after

50 overs.

Northern Districts were never in the hunt.

Two wickets in the first four overs, both to Adam Milne, had the hosts in deep trouble, leaving BJ Watling and Anton Devcich to try and rebuild.

But when they both fell in their

20s, ND fell to 74-5 and their hopes of pushing for a victory were out the window.

Daryl Mitchell scored a fighting

50 with the lower order helping show some respectability in reaching 249 all out.

v

(J Ryder 107, G Worker 96, D Bracewell 43) defeated

(D Mitchell 52, I Sodhi 44, S Kuggeleijn 33; A Milne 3-35, B Tickner 3-56) by 85 runs.

AUCKLAND v CANTERBURY

The Ben Stokes show rolled into Auckland, but Colin Munro leapt on stage and took over proceedings with a stunning 174 not out.

Set 277 to win by Canterbury at the Eden Park Outer Oval, Munro opened the innings and went after everything, bashing 22 fours and six sixes along the way.

Munro and Michael GuptillBunce put on 106 for the opening partnership before Guptill-Bunce fell for 30, and although Auckland had a mini collapse with three wickets falling for just 36 runs, they powered on home.

Mark Chapman came to the wicket and scored 55 from 59 balls to help Munro guide the chase home.

Munro faced just 118 balls for his 174 runs.

Ben Stokes had another game without a wicket for Canterbury.

Earlier, Stokes went better with the bat than in his Ford Trophy debut, scoring 34 from 41 balls, but it was Todd Astle who was the only batsman to edge past fifty, scoring

53 from 49.

Five players had scores in the

30s but failed to kick on, with number 11 Fraser Sheat the second highest scorer with 35 off 27 balls.

Mitchell McClenaghan claimed four wickets.

(T Astle 53, F Sheat 35*; M McClenaghan 4-41, T Nethula 3-68) lost to

(C Munro 174*, M Chapman 55*) by seven wickets.

OTAGO v WELLINGTON

Shawn Hicks guided Otago to victory over Wellington in Dunedin, scoring a patient, unbeaten 83 as they chased down Wellington’s 253.

The South African-born batsman faced 116 balls to see Otago home in the 47th over, securing a six wicket win.

Rob Nicol and Hamish Rutherford gave the hosts a fast start in their chase but both fell in the opening 10 overs.

Hicks and Neil Broom then consolidated the teams position with patient knocks, combining for a 95-run partnership through the middle overs.

Broom fell for 48, bringing an aggressive Anaru Kitchen – 50 from 34 balls – to power Otago into winning position.

Wellington had a patient 74 from 100 balls from Devon Conway to thank for their score.

Michael Bracewell scored 58 from 66 batting four, and Hamish Marshall had 45 from 40 opening the innings, but the next best score was 20.

Batsmen six to 11 added just 45 runs over the final 20 overs with Conway at the other end, making it tough going for the visitors.

(D Conway 74*, M Bracewell 58, H Marshall 45; J Hunter 3-35, J Duffy 3-42) lost to (S Hicks 83*, A Kitchen 50, N Broom 48) by six wickets.