Firebirds bowlers skittle Stags

Knocked off the top of the Plunket Shield ladder, Wellington have a royal chance to reclaim the lead after their seamers ran through the Central Stags’ batting at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Logan van Beek and Jimmy Neesham snared three wickets apiece after captain Michael Bracewell won an important toss, as the Stags were dismissed for

96 in just 36.4 overs.

Led by opener Rachin Ravindra’s 76 not out, the Firebirds were well on top at 175-3 in reply at stumps on day one and looking in great shape to overhaul the Stags who led by one point after four rounds.

On a familiar day one greentop at the Basin, Neesham (3-17) did the early damage removing Will Young (1) and Ben Smith (2) as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

Stags spearhead Blair Tickner struck twice in the first over, removing Fraser Colson and Devon Conway, before Ravindra and Bracewell fought through to add unbroken 95 on a good day for the Firebirds.

At Eden Park’s Outer Oval, Northern Districts were sent in but took day one honours on

303-4, thanks to centuries from

Henry Cooper and captain Joe Carter.

Opener Cooper continued his fine season, notching his fourth first-class ton off 232 balls against a fired-up Lockie Ferguson.

The Black Caps fast bowler struck Cooper (111) a painful blow on the arm which saw the match halted while he received treatment, before he continued on to three figures.

In Invercargill, Black Caps seamer Matt Henry hit stride ahead of the ODI series in Australia, snaring a four-wicket bag as Otago were dismissed for 287 after winning the toss.

Third-placed Canterbury were 20-1 at stumps after home skipper Jacob Duffy removed Chad Bowes for 15.