WINNING START FOR SOLID STAGS

Ton up | Margot Butcher

Central Stags captain GREG HAY has hit the ground running in the new edition of the 116-year-old Plunket Shield first-class cricket championship.

Hay became the first player in the country to hit a first-class century this summer, raising his bat on the opening day of the season on Friday at Eden Park Outer Oval where the Stags went on to win handsomely, with an innings and a day to spare, in the four-dayer against the Auckland Aces.

The emphatic start netted 19 of the possible 20 points for the star-studded team that now heads to Saxton Oval, Nelson for round two against the Wellington Firebirds, starting on Saturday (28 October.)

Hay’s 17th frst-class century came after he’d lost the toss and been sent in, something that did not faze the gritty 39-year-old as he grafted his way throughout the first day to be unbeaten at stumps. 

 

PHOTOSPORT

 

His knock of 115 set up a hefty first innings total of 509/8 declared. BRAD SCHMULIAN (86), TOM BRUCE (81) and JOSH CLARKSON (83) all backed up while DANE CLEAVER had reached 63 not out at a racy pace when Hay declared on the second afternoon.

The Stags were not required to bat again as the strong bowling attack — featuring a trio of Test bowlers in BLAIR TICKNER, AJAZ PATEL and DOUG BRACEWELL — got on top of the Aucklanders who were rolled for 264 and 168, the Stags winning by an innings and 77 runs. RAY TOOLE also bowled superbly, claiming 4/33 as the Aces were defeated.

Hay’s century sees him draw level with PETER INGRAM on the Stags’ all-time list of first-class hundreds, with MATHEW SINCLAIR's phenomenal Stags record of 27 centuries the only mark ahead of them. 

The match also produced significant milestones for Cleaver and Bracewell. When Bracewell had George Worker caught behind in the first innings, it was Cleaver’s 200th first-class dismissal for the team. He finished the match with 204 dismissals, standing behind only his predecessor BEVAN GRIGGS (232) on the Stags record sheet. 

That was Bracewell’s 399th first-class wicket and he went on to bag his 400th the following day when Finn Allen was caught by Jack Boyle on 79.

 

MBUTCHER

 

Not only was it Bracewell’s 400th wicket, but it elevated him to the elite list of 16 New Zealand players to have taken 400 wickets and scored 4000 runs in the first-class game, alongside the ilk of Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori - and Bracewell’s uncle, John Bracewell.

Said Hay, “It’s a phenomenal effort. Dougie’s just the model of consistency. I think he’s played 15 seasons for us now and he’s just done it season after season, so he’s Mr. Reliable and just a dream for a captain to have in the side.”

 

 

When the Stags touch down in Nelson later this week, they will be returning to the scene of the dramatic victory in April that cemented their third national Plunket Shield championship in the space of six years. Hay has been captain for two of those titles, and would dearly love to become the first captain to lift the revered trophy three times.

But he’s not getting ahead of himself — with the Stags taking on another team coming off a first-round win, the Wellington Firebirds, who defeated Canterbury at the Basin Reserve over Labour weekend and sit third on the early season table.

“It should be a good contest,” says Hay.

“And the weather is looking fine and sunny, just what you expect from Nelson."

Livescores and a free livestream will be available at cdcricket.co.nz and admission is free to all four days of the match. 

The Stags and Central Hinds will also be hosting a free Super Smash Open Day with giveaways, sausage sizzle, games and activities at Mitre 10 Park, Hastings for the first time on 20 November 2023.

 

 

Article added: Tuesday 24 October 2023

 

 

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