Sombre tone 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, generating significant outswing, ended with figures of 4-46 including the cheap wickets of former Black Caps Daniel Flynn and Dean Brownlie.
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 Mitchell Santner late in the day.
In Dunedin, former Stag Mitch Renwick marked his 21st first-class 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 leftarmer 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 while test offspinner Will Somerville toiled for
27 wicketless overs.