Match A: Canterbury v Central Districts at Albany, 16 Nov 2001 CricInfo Live Report

Match A: Canterbury v Central Districts at Albany, 16 Nov 2001
Lynn McConnell

Central Districts innings: First innings break, CD 2nd innings,
Canterbury innings: Canterbury 1st innings, End of match,

CANTERBURY HOME COMFORTABLY FOR FIRST WIN

Central Districts paid the price for a second innings collapse which saw six wickets fall for eight runs as Canterbury claimed the first victory of the State Max tournament at North Harbour's Albany Stadium today.

Canterbury won by six wickets with five overs to spare.

Canterbury needing only 61 to win were in early strife and after the first ball of the third over were 21/3. Darren Reekers' scored 14 in the first over, and Brett Hefford conceded only seven runs in his second over while picking up the key wicket of Brad Doody, caught at mid-off, a splendid diving catch by Ewen Thompson, for four runs.

Mark Hastings was bowled for two from Schwass' first ball.

But after Warren Wisneski joined Chris Harris and settled in during the remainder of the over before launching an assault against Hefford in the fourth.

A typical off drive for four was followed by the shot of the game, a superb strike which flew high over the sightscreen to score 12, a Max hit which took Canterbury to 43. But from the next ball, Harris didn't quite connect and was held at long on for 19.

Peter Fulton took over however, and a six behind square from Gareth West took Canterbury within one mighty blow of victory, with nearly five overs to spare. Fulton finished the game with an elegant four off his toes placed through mid-wicket to claim a comfortable victory.

CANTERBURY IN CONTROL AT ALBANY

Canterbury was left with a target of 61 runs to win the first game of the State Max tournament at North Harbour's Albany Stadium today and send CD packing.

A lower order collapse which saw six wickets fall for eight runs virtually handed the game to Canterbury.

CD needed a flyer at the start of their second innings and David Kelly provided it.

Initially, the promoted Marlborough batsman John Nelson got the momentum going, but once he was out to a steepling mis-hit from Stephen Cunis' bowling, Kelly got the all-important hits into the Max zone going and the CD deficit of 14 runs was wiped out in the first over.

Then as Warren Wisneski wound into his first over, Kelly took four from him into the Max zone for eight runs. New batsman Peter McGlashan wasn't quite able to get into his rhythm on the drive but turned a shot to fine leg in an elegant assistance of the ball which flew to the boundary. At the end of the second over, CD were building a position of strength at 35/1.

Ryan Burson slowed the scoring in the third over with only eight runs coming from it.

Wisneski continued from the East Coast Bays end and saw the 50 up as Kelly and Richard King did plenty of running as they were unable to find the boundary. And from the last ball of the fourth over, Kelly was bowled by Wisneski for 28.

By the end of five overs CD were in a hole with no boundaries opening up while King was stumped from the last ball of Burson's over to have CD 56/4, a lead of only 42 runs.

Chris Harris kept the brakes on while also picking up the wicket of Jamie How, caught at mid-on by Wisneski for seven to leave CD battling at 64/5.

The situation was immediately made worse when Andrew Schwass was leg before wicket to the first ball he faced, and the first ball bowled by left-arm spinner Carl Anderson.

More disaster followed when Campbell Furlong was caught at mid-off and at the end of the seventh over CD were 69/7. Then the misery continued in Harris' next over as both Ewen Thompson and Brent Hefford succumbed to catches in the deep with only one run being added. A collapse of five wickets for four runs seemed certain to send the CD team home early from the tournament.

A run out in the last over saw CD all out for 74, a lead of only 60 runs.

CANTERBURY TAKES 14-RUN LEAD

State Central Districts' bowler Michael Mason had a harsh return to top cricket when bowling the first over of the Canterbury innings in the State Max at Albany's North Harbour Stadium today.

Struggling for direction he sent down four wides, worth two on each occasion, but compensated for that by allowing only one run from the bat.

Ewen Thompson had the misfortune to see his first ball leg-glanced for four by Darren Reekers and just avoid the diving wicket-keeper Bevan Griggs while Reekers got right into a shorter ball and pulled it just over Mason on the square leg boundary. Mason made his task of possibly catching the ball impossible when slipping onto his rear at the moment the ball pass overhead.

The honour of first Max six, a 12, went to Brad Doody in Mason's second over, a shot preceded by Doody dancing down the wicket to loft the ball high over the boundary. After three overs Canterbury were well placed on 35 without loss.

However, Reekers had trouble getting Thompson away in the fourth over and only seven runs came from it, as Reekers had only 16 runs off 18 balls compared to Doody who had 15 from seven.

Gareth West was introduced and while seeing the 50-run partnership come up from his bowling off a skied pull which was dropped by Kelly as he dived for it, he did have the satisfaction of having Reekers caught at deep mid-on for 19 off 21.

Andrew Schwass came into the attack for the sixth over and gained the wicket of Mark Hastings, caught just outside the Max zone at mid-off for four.

Skipper Chris Harris joined Doody for the last four overs in a comparable state to CD at the same stage at 58/2 when off-spinner Campbell Furlong joined the attack. Doody immediately looked to assault his bowling but after missing the first two balls he opted for a more orthodox single into the off-side.

He conceded only four runs in his first over, an impressive effort given the firepower still available to Canterbury.

The four runs hit from the first ball bowled by Brent Hefford was hit square through point by Harris, and was the first boundary in three overs. Doody then edged the fifth ball of the over for four through slips to move to 28. Canterbury were 74/2 after eight overs.

Furlong's second over was not quite so comfortable with Doody hitting four over cover and then a six into the Max zone next ball to go to 46. Then off the last ball Harris hit a lofted drive across the Max zone boundary for an eight.

Hefford bowled the last over and saw the Canterbury 100 up while off the penultimate ball of the innings Doody brought up his 50 off 25 balls. At the end of the innings Canterbury were 107/2 with Doody 50 not out and Harris unbeaten on 20.

CANTERBURY PUT THE SQUEEZE ON CD

North Harbour's Stadium turned up trumps for the staging of this year's State Max tournament which started today.

Conditions were perfect and the pitch, being used for the first time, offered bounce with good carry and pace on a hot Auckland day..

In the opening game, Central Districts batted first and were given a good start by James McGlashan and David Kelly, with McGlashan playing some impressive shots square of the wicket while Kelly, a permanent fixture in the CD side made a significant boost to the start when hitting Warren Wisneski back into the Max zone for an eight.

However a run out from the deep mid-wicket area ended McGlashan's innings for 15 and Kelly followed soon after.

Then a newcomer John Nelson stepped up and played some impressive shots to reach 19 before he was trapped leg before wicket by Cleighton Cornelius for 21.

CD started the last over on 89 with Chris Harris bowling. Bowling around the wicket to the right-handers he kept the ball full yielding only singles to hold CD to 93/4, an ordinary start given the conditions.