Mathieson sets record as CD win

UNHERALDED Central Stags seamer Andrew Mathieson set a new mark for domestic one-day wickets in a season as his side won yesterday’s final by 78 runs over Auckland.

Mathieson, who had an unflattering record before the season started, grabbed wicket number 31 when he had Donovan Grobbelaar caught in the deep to all but end Auckland’s chances of victory at Colin Maiden Park.

‘‘He was outstanding,’’ Stags captain Kruger van Wyk said. ‘‘Halfway through the season he was really struggling with a foot injury but the man just keeps running in and he shows massive heart.’’

Van Wyk would have questioned his decision to bat first after the Stags slumped to 3-2 with the ball moving about sharply.

Jamie How’s final innings lasted a solitary delivery after he was caught by Brad Cachopa off the bowling of Matt Quinn, while Central’s innings fell deeper into trouble when George Worker was out for two.

Will Young (45) and van Wyk (53) steadied the ship with some determined and concentrated batting, with neither playing the anchor role for as long as coach Heinrich Malan would have wanted. Doug Bracewell (24no) and Bevan Small (29no) ensured the Stags had a decent total of 271-7 to defend, the latter hitting a couple of sixes as Quinn’s last over went for a costly 25 runs.

Auckland started their chase positively with Brad Cachopa scoring 40 off 34 balls at the top of the order before Small nabbed his wicket and that of brother Craig Cachopa off successive balls. As per their tendency, Colin Munro and Colin de Grandhomme showed no concern for the state of the game when they arrived at the crease.

With Auckland needing to steady things through the middle stages, especially when they were 67-4, de Grandhomme came out swinging, putting his first ball to the boundary before smacking his second over it.

That do-or-die attitude was soon to blame for his undoing, although Marty Kain took a magnificent catch going backwards to have him gone for 13.

The Aces’ innings then hit a further snag when Munro went a few balls later to leave Auckland 101-6.

Grobbelaar and captain Michael Bates did frustrate the Stags for some time with a 81-run partnership but they were set an impossible task after their top order folded and they were bowled out for 193 in the 39th over.