Double blow for batsman
Otago batsman Ryan Duffy created a few nervous moments at Eden Park’s outer oval in Auckland yesterday when he was struck on the helmet by a nasty bouncer. The good news is Duffy was fine. The bad news is when he was helped off the deck after being knocked to the ground, Duffy realised he had been bowled and he departed for 18.
Batting on day one of the round two Plunket Shield game against Auckland, Duffy attempted to duck a short ball from Auckland quick Lochie Ferguson.
It struck the Southlander flush on the helmet and as he dropped to the ground the ball dropped onto the stumps.
His fellow batsman Brad Wilson rushed to his aid as did the Auckland fielders but Otago Cricket has since confirmed he is fine.
There has been plenty of discussion around head knocks in cricket of late following the death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes.
However, while Ferguson dismissed Duffy, it was Tarun Nethula who was the real destroyer for Auckland.
The leg-spinner took 6-36 to knock the stuffing out of the Otago batting effort with the southern men dismissed for a paltry 164.
Wilson top-scored for Otago with 56 before he was bowled by Nethula while Neil Broom crafted a patient 36 to move within eight runs of 8000 first-class runs.
In reply, Auckland were 52-2 at stumps with Jeet Raval on 24 and Rob Nicol unbeaten on five.
The wickets to fall were Robert O’Donnell, who was trapped lbw by Neil Wagner for 18, and Michael Guptill-Bunce, who was bowled by Jacob Duffy for three.
In Christchurch, Canterbury were 185-7 after being put into bat by Central Districts at Hagley Oval.
Todd Astle was unbeaten on 51 at stumps while there were solid contributions from Henry Nicholls with 33 and captain Andy Ellis (25).
Ajaz Patel reached 100 first-class wickets when he dismissed Ken McClure on a day in which he took 4-41 from 19 overs. In Wellington, play was rained off after just six overs although that was long enough for the Firebirds to grab two Northern Districts wickets.
Wellington’s decision to bowl paid off when Hamish Bennett Dean Brownlie for a duck.
Two balls later Northern Districts captain Daniel Flynn was on his way after being trapped lbw by Brent Arnel for one.
When rained ended play, Northern Districts were 10-2. quickly bowled