Broken thumb not a problem
It seems a cracked bone in a cricketer’s hand isn’t enough to keep them down these days.
Auckland fast bowler Lockie Ferguson suffered what was reported as a broken thumb after being struck on the hand while batting last week, but backed up at Eden Park for their round three match against Otago.
Ferguson snared career-best figures of
7-34 on day two yesterday, including his
100th first-class wicket.
He followed the example of Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis who played the last two rounds with a broken bone in his hand, which even saw him bat onehanded at No 11.
CANTERBURY v CENTRAL DISTRICTS at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Jesse Ryder flexed his batting muscles again, and the seamers did the job late to leave Central Districts in the box seat.
At stumps Canterbury were teetering at 98-4 in reply to the Stags’ imposing
498-7 declared.
After day one centuries from Greg Hay and the returning George Worker, Ryder strode out on a rain-interrupted day two to add the icing.
Ryder cracked a 40-ball half-century and scored 89 off 89 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. Ryder added 68 with Dane Cleaver and 70 with Doug Bracewell before captain Will Young put Canterbury’s bowlers out of their misery.
Seth Rance snared openers Chad Bowes and Leo Carter in his first four overs then Blair Tickner’s double strike capped another top day for the visitors. He had dangerman Ken McClure caught for 36 then Cole McConchie lbw third ball, leaving Michael Pollard (30 not out) a decent rescue job.
Central Districts 498-7 dec (Greg Hay 140, George Worker 111, Jesse Ryder
89, Brad Schmulian 74, Dane Cleaver 34, Doug Bracewell 33no; Daniel Sams 2-97, Tim Johnston 2-102, Fraser Sheat 2-123) v Canterbury 98-4 (Ken McClure 36, Michael Pollard 30no; Blair Tickner 2-19, Seth Rance 2-23).
AUCKLAND v OTAGO at Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Ferguson faced just two deliveries batting at No 11 for Auckland with his tender right thumb, and was shown no mercy by Neil Wagner who removed him with a short pitched delivery.
Clearly it fired up the Black Caps contracted speedster who tore through Otago’s batting in 15 devastating overs, including first-ballers for captain and former team-mate Rob Nicol and Black Cap Mark Craig.
Former Auckland batsman Anaru Kitchen was the best of the visitors with
43. With Otago skittled for 170 it gave Auckland a handy 43-run first innings lead at their beloved Eden Park.
They built on that strongly late on the second day after captain Michael GuptillBunce (29) and test opener Jeet Raval (28) couldn’t kick on.
Robbie O’Donnell reached his halfcentury just before the close and allrounder Sean Solia, the New Zealand A callup back from injury, looked the part at No 4. He ended the day 43 not out, the pair having added 92 unbroken and Auckland’s lead out to 205.
Auckland 213 and 162-2 (Robbie O’Donnell 55no, Sean Solia 43no) v Otago
170 (Anaru Kitchen 43, Neil Wagner
39no; Lockie Ferguson 7-34, Danru Ferns
2-33).
NORTHERN DISTRICTS v WELLINGTON at Seddon Park, Hamilton
Early pace-setters Wellington had the upper hand halfway through their match as Northern Districts struggled to get within sight of the Firebirds’ first innings of 380.
With Wellington’s accurate bowling attack headed by Black Caps aspirant Hamish Bennett snaring regular wickets, Northern reached 237-7 at the close with Dean Brownlie topscoring with 82.
Wellington added 58 to their overnight score with Fraser Colson last out for 52, as veteran seamer Brent Arnel snared his wicket for his 15th bag of five wickets. His 5-73 came off 34.2 overs.
Ollie Newton shared Northern captain Daniel Flynn cheaply then Bennett made two key incisions: Bharat Popli (14) and the dangerous Tim Seifert (12) to give the hosts the wobbles.
Brownlie batted three hours for his 82 before his castle was disturbed by Newton, and Anton Devcich couldn’t kick on with Logan van Beek nicked him off for
43. Once again, the Firebirds have control.
Wellington 380 (Stephen Murdoch
97, Luke Woodcock 61, Fraser Colson 52, Michael Bracewell 48, Tom Blundell 33; Brent Arnel 5-73, James Baker 3-78, Scott Kuggeleijn 2-108) v Northern Districts
237-7 (Dean Brownlie 82, Henry Cooper
48, Anton Devcich 43; Ollie Newton 2-50, Loan van Beek 2-51, Hamish Bennett
2-64).