The Central Stags produced a commanding all-round performance against Canterbury in their Plunket Shield encounter at Napier, sealing a crucial outright win marked by personal milestones and dramatic collapses from the visitors.
According to a report by NZC, Canterbury’s struggles were evident across two disastrous sessions. On day two, they lost seven wickets in a single session, followed by another six-wicket collapse on day three. By the final morning, just two wickets separated the Stags from victory, with wicketkeeper-captain Dane Cleaver sitting on nine dismissals for the match.
Cleaver reached a major personal landmark during Canterbury’s first innings, registering his 300th first-class dismissal after taking six catches as Canterbury were bowled out for just 124. Taking charge of the side in the absence of Tom Bruce, Cleaver captained his second first-class match and opted to bat first after winning the toss, NZC has reported.
Canterbury’s troubles began even before the first ball was bowled. Travel disruptions forced them to bus from Wellington to Napier, arriving late on the eve of the match. Matters worsened when keeper-batter Mitch Hay and strike bowler Michael Rae were called up to the injury-hit BLACKCAPS Test squad mid-match. That left Canterbury reshuffling their XI, with Fraser Sheat and Jesse Frew stepping in, while coach Peter Fulton even ran drinks in full whites, NZC has reported.
Despite posting a modest 239 in their first innings, the Stags built a decisive advantage thanks to Curtis Heaphy’s third consecutive first-class century. Brad Schmulian added 39 in a 61-run stand, while Josh Clarkson starred with the ball, claiming career-best figures of 4/33 as Canterbury folded rapidly on day two.
Central’s second innings saw contributions throughout the order. Rookie Taylor Bettelheim scored his second half-century in just his second match, sharing a 97-run stand with Schmulian. Will Clark’s attacking 70 from number eight pushed Central to 330, setting Canterbury a daunting target of 445, reported NZC.
Any hopes of a defiant chase were quickly extinguished. Ajaz Patel claimed his 400th first-class wicket in a milestone moment, while Canterbury’s middle and lower order crumbled again under pressure. By stumps on day three, the visitors were eight wickets down with only 127 runs on the board.
The final morning offered little resistance. After Sheat was dismissed for 20, Jesse Frew eventually took the top score of 30, sealing an emphatic Central Stags victory before lunch, as reported by NZC.
The win lifted the Stags into interim top spot on the Plunket Shield table, intensifying the title race with just one round remaining before the Super Smash window. Central now head to Dunedin to face Otago, while Canterbury return home to host the Auckland Aces in another decisive fixture.
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