A big seven-wicket win with a session to spare at the Basin Reserve has seen our Central Stags rise to second on the table at the end of their fourth round.

Back in October, the Stags were desperately unlucky not to have beaten Canterbury in the first round, with Canterbury - now leading the competition - saved by wet weather and bad light in the last session in Christchurch.

Since then, our Stags men have endured a frustrating fortnight on two flat tracks against the Otago Volts, but they bounced back strongly in much livelier conditions in Wellington to ensure a third consecutive defeat for the Firebirds at their own home ground this season.

Pocketing the maximum possible 20 points, the Stags leapfrogged both the Firebirds and Volts on the ladder, and now sit within striking distance of the so-far undefeated defending champions, Canterbury.

SETH RANCE's fitness made an immediate impact for the side, celebrating his return to first-class cricket with early strikes in both innings - including a wicket with his first ball in the second.

Rance and BLAIR TICKNER took 11 wickets between them across the match, but the star of the show was arguably BEN WHEELER who had a brilliant all-round game.

Wheeler contributed a vital half-century with the bat; a now world-famous runout off his own bowling after spying and executing a brilliant opportunity; and he took four wickets in the second innings to go with it.

During a very windy week in the capital with the symphony of construction and nailguns to accompany the sounds of cricket, conditions weren't pleasant or easy in the field, and the life in the wicket saw a torrent of slip catches offered by both sides.

No wonder, then, that Stags captain GREG HAY proceeded with caution on the fourth morning as he led his side off in pursuit of 131 runs for victory.

The captain batted for more than two hours for his 22, taunting the Firebirds' attack and ensuring there was no great calamity ahead of lunch.

Ben Sears, who had taken a bag for the Firebirds in the first innings, did manage to pick off another couple of wickets but once DANE CLEAVER settled in at the crease, the run target shrunk quickly as he totted up an unbeaten half century en route to a much needed victory.

The match was a first-up win for first-class debutant MA'ARA AVE who became Central Stags cap 303 and scored 24 in his first innings.

The Stags now head into white-ball mode and will be sharpening their T20 skills with intersquad match practice in Napier next week before setting off for Dunedin where they and the CENTRAL HINDS will play their first Dream11 Super Smash doubleheader of the season on Sunday 28 November.

The Stags and Hinds play their first three doubleheaders away (after Dunedin, they head to Wellington and then Christchurch) before landing back in Napier in December for the first home game.

The Saturday 18 December day-time matches will be the Stags and Hinds' only doubleheader in Hawke's Bay and is FREE ADMISSION so long as spectators pre-register their attendance on our ticketing website.

Then it's off to an exciting event at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park just after Christmas on 27 December, before our traditional New Year's Eve "party" at Pukekura Park with Dream11 Super Smash doubleheaders on both 30 and 31 December, with the free Festival of Lights right next door for afters with friends and family.

The Stags and Hinds will be back at Pukekura for their last scheduled home doubleheader ahead of Finals on 8 January 2022 before heading off for another couple of away rounds pre-Finals.

SEE FULL DREAM11 SUPER SMASH SCHEDULE

PLUNKET SHIELD POINTS TABLE (number of matches played)

Canterbury - 56 (4)

CENTRAL STAGS - 39 (4)

Otago Volts - 28 (3)

Wellington Firebirds - 28 (4)

Northern Districts - 4 (1)

Auckland Aces - 0 (0)

Stags v Firebirds scorecard

click here

Article added: Thursday 18 November 2021