26th Match: Central Districts v Wellington at Napier, 18-21 Mar 2002 CricInfo Live Report

26th Match: Central Districts v Wellington at Napier, 18-21 Mar 2002
Steve McMorran

Central Districts 2nd innings: 1st session, day three, Central second innings,
Wellington 2nd innings: Scene set, day three,
Live Reports from previous days

WELLINGTON FIGHTS BACK BUT CENTRAL STILL IN CHARGE ON DAY THREE
Substitute wicketkeeper Luke Woodcock took two catches as Wellington fought their way back into their State Championship match against Central Districts at McLean Park in Napier today.

By mid-afternoon, Central was 231-6, leading by 269 runs overall with four second innings wickets in hand.

Woodcock, substituting for international Chris Nevin who has a broken toe, took catches to dismiss both Ben Smith and Glen Sulzberger whose partnership for the fourth wicket lifted Central into a controlling position.

Central resumed at 114-3 this morning, 152 runs ahead of Wellington after building on a 38-run first innings lead.

Smith and Sulzberger put on 60 runs for the fourth wicket, in a stand in which Smith was the dominant partner, before Sulzberger was caught by Woodcock from Mark Jefferson's bowling in the 58th over.

Smith was Woodcock's next victim, caught for 64 in the 61st over from the bowling of Iain O'Brien. He had faced 147 balls when he was out and Central was 167-5, having lost two wickets for three runs.

Wellington's fightback continued when they snared the important wicket of Bevan Griggs in the 67th over, leaving Central 174-6.

Jacob Oram and Andrew Schwass joined in a parntership of 47 for the seventh wicket which carried Central to 231-6 after 91 overs.

Central's position was still a strong one and Wellington's chances in the match depended on them quickly securing the last four wickets.

SMITH AND SULZBERGER TIGHTEN CENTRAL'S GRIP
Ben Smith and Glen Sulzberger enlarged Central's control of their State Championship match against Wellington at McLean Park when they preserved their fourth wicket stand through the first hour on the third day.

By the middle of the first session, Central had progressed from 114-3 overnight to 152-3 and led by 190 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.

Smith had completed an increasingly fluent and composed half century while Sulzberger, his ideal foil, had progressed sedately and without concern to 19 not out.

At the end of the 54th over of Central's second innings, Smith was 57 not out and was increasingly wringing out any hopes of a Wellington victory.

Wellington needed quick wickets this morning to attain some parity in the match after trailing by 38 runs on the first innings and by 152 runs overnight.

Smith and Sulzberger easily denied them the breakthroughs that might have left the match more finely poised.

The unbroken fourth wicket partnership between Smith, the Worcesteshire professional, and Sulzberger ws worth 53 runs by the middle of the morning.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS HOLD UPPER HAND AS WELLINGTON MATCH ENTERS THIRD DAY
Central Districts will endeavour to build on an already powerful position on the third day of their State Championship match against Wellington at McLean Park today.

They will resume this morning at 114-3 in their second innings, 152-runs ahead of Wellington overall with seven wickets in hand.

Central were given charge of their match yesterday when they dismissed Wellington for 180 in their first innings, gaining a 38-run first innings lead. Their lead might have been larger but for Mark Jefferson's half century which revived Wellington after they had been 78-6.

Central enlarged that lead with relative comfort before stumps, thanks to Matthew Sinclair who made 41 and to Ben Smith who was 30 not out at stumps. He resumes today with Glen Sulzberger.

If Smith can prosper and Sulzberger can stay with him, if players such as Jacob Oram, Michael Mason and Andrew Schwass can repeat their performances of the first innings, Central could play Wellington out of the match today.

It is a match Wellington hope desperately to win to consolidate their lead in the Championship competition. A win to Central, the foundation for which has been laid over the first two days, would make them strong contenders for the championship title.

The weather for today's match is likely to be fine and warm and a high of 27 degrees has been forecast. But the light fades quickly in the early evening at this time of year and the first two days have been shortened by bad light.