The return of first-class cricket to Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park for the first time in 14 seasons resulted in an oscillating and absorbing clash between Canterbury and our Central Stags.

Against the odds, the vastly experienced Central opening pair of GREG HAY and BEN SMITH batted the Stags into a winning position on the final morning - before drizzle set in at lunchtime as a vicious wet weather system continued to sweep the country.

With Whangarei's match between ND and the Auckland Aces washed out on all four days, Manawatu was fortunate to enjoy a better stint of weather with the opening day getting underway in bright sunshine.

The Stags were asked to bowl first but Canterbury captain Cole McConchie conceded it was a difficult decision as to whether to bat or bowl first on the well grassed deck. "But those are the best kind of wickets - where you do have to think a bit to make a decision."

All images: MBUTCHER

The Stags had named two uncapped Hawke's Bay representatives in their twelve for the match and it was allounder WILL CLARK who became Central Stags cap number 304 with TODD WATSON supporting the team as 12th man and soaking up the atmosphere and tension of the first-class game.

Local paceman RAY TOOLE led the attack and opened the bowling with LIAM DUDDING, and by lunch the Stags had made a fine start with the Cantabrians already four down.

Coming on as fourth change in the 15th over, CLARK (above) had taken his maiden wicket with just his fourth delivery in first-class cricket, and what a wicket it was - BLACKCAP Henry Nicholls caught by TOM BRUCE for just two runs!

Clark went on to take a brace, while Toole had already stopped a quick half century from Chad Bowes and was on his way to another handy haul of four wickets, fresh off his maiden six-for and nine wickets for the match in Napier.

In the second innings, Toole would pick up his 50th first-class wicket and at a very good clip, with a further two wickets taking him to six for the match.

Declarations in each of the first three innings stopped the bowlers in their tracks, both captains conscious of the looming storms that would bring rowdy thunder and lightning at tea on the third day, and limit the time available for a result.

McConchie played a big role in Canterbury's first dig, leading the way with a career-best unbeaten 187* across the first four sessions, with Canterbury 438/8 at stumps on the second day after the rest of the afternoon was lost to rain.

The visiting captain denied himself a maiden double ton by declaring the next morning, also having denied the Stags a fourth bowling bonus point. Canterbury went on to collect six bonus points in all and the Stags five after an invaluable century stand between BRUCE (90 not out) and JOEY FIELD (34 not out) for the sixth wicket.

The Stags had been in early trouble in the first innings at 92/5 after a challenge from Canterbury's big young debutant Will O'Rourke and a career-best from swing bowler Zak Foulkes.

But Bruce and Field stayed together for more than two hours and were batting beautifully.

Tickets: on.nzc.nz/3Df6P99

Like McConchie before him, Bruce would miss out on a personal milestone when Hay boldly declared the first innings at 203/5 late on the third day - 235 runs behind, but leaving some 11 overs to have a crack at Canterbury again before stumps.

Miserable, overcast skies having long since replaced the sunshine, showers had already caused short interruptions and time was of the essence.

The 10.3 overs turned out to be a productive little period for both sides, the Stags taking three wickets and Canterbury adding 81 runs to their lead as the visiting top order headed out with a clearly aggressive mindset.

Nicholls did plenty of damage in a short time, blasting 20 not out off just nine balls, but when Toole had McConchie caught for a golden duck, it brought a quick end to the day and - on the following morning - another overnight declaration.

Now it was game on for both sides, the Stags needing just over 100 runs a session and Canterbury needing 10 wickets for an outright.

There would be no repeat of the first innings collapse as Hay, in his first match back since a thumb fracture at the end of last year, and Smith went to work.

Chasing 317 for the win with 576 balls left in the day - weather permitting, the pair did not give Canterbury the satisfaction of a wicket in the opening session, heading back in at lunch at 99 without loss.

Sadly, that was the point at which the weather packed in, and the captains would ultimately shake hands late that afternoon for a draw.

SCORES

The result left the Stags in fourth spot while Canterbury inched up above Northern Districts into second. The Stags play ND again next week in Whangarei where they can narrow that points gap before returning to McLean Park in the first week of April - where specatators will be welcome - for a clash with unbeaten runaway leaders the Auckland Aces.

That game will be the Stags' eighth and final round of the season, while the Aces, who made a belated start to the season, have one more match in hand after that as all teams watch and wait.

As an interesting aside to the week in Palmerston North, the match saw no fewer than four umpires called upon.

Wellington's Corey Black and ND's John Dempsey had been appointed to stand in the match, but Black would need to head back home after his wife became ill.

CD's Regan Combe was then the replacement umpire from lunch on the second day, but was not required in the middle as the subsequent two sessions were rained off.

She was replaced on the final day by fellow CD umpire Glen Walkin who stood in his first Plunket Shield match on the final day, after having previously umpired many white-ball Domestic fixtures.

 

 

The match was also notable for the unveiling of the impressive new CD Honours Board on the exterior of the grandstand, acknowledging distinguished Central Stags and Hinds representatives and CD Life Members.

The Honours Board was unveiled by CD Cricket CEO PETE de WET and Stags and Manawatu alumnus JAMIE HOW, in front of a gathering of Manawatu dignataries and alumni.

POINTS

• As of 23 March 2022 (with number of matches played in brackets)

• Because of the lockdown-affected scheduling this summer, the season's points table is ranked by average points per match

AUCKLAND ACES 76 (5)
CANTERBURY 65 (6)
NORTHERN DISTRICTS 64 (6)
CENTRAL STAGS 48 (6)
OTAGO VOLTS 55 (7)
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS 38 (6)

 

Article added: Thursday 24 March 2022