ROUND ONE

Central Stags v Canterbury

Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

17 November 2019

Result: match abandoned after rain in second innings... but not before the Stags put on 349/4!!!

Scores

The Central Stags have opened the 2019/20 Ford Trophy season with a huge statement, after opening batsman George Worker and first drop Ben Smith each scored centuries against Canterbury in smashing style.

Worker's 135 off 124 balls was the ninth-highest ever individual score by a Stag in The Ford Trophy - and the third time the punishing left-hander has appeared on that particular list, one which is dominated by Worker and Jamie How who was on hand to watch today's first half spectacle.

Worker's second century at his home ground - his maiden having been here in 2011 - came after Canterbury captain Cole McConchie won the toss and sent the Stags in.

Despite rain earlier in the Manawatu morning, magically the skies fined up, and play started on time - before showers returned just as Canterbury's big chase was about to get underway.

Regardless, a healthy and vocally supportive Fitzherbert Park crowd was in for a treat. One of Worker's three sixes (along with 14 fours) went over the roof of the stand, which fortuitously took the edge off the ball's force before it tumbled down onto the head of a surprised cyclist who was passing by on the street.

The cyclist checked over by the Stags team physio, no one was worse for wear and, after a ball change, the ballistics continued.

Worker batted into the 40th over, having started with a bang by striking three boundaries off Henry Shipley's very first over of the morning.

With fellow Manawatu local Dane Cleaver he had pasted on 80 for the first wicket, then combined with Ben Smith in an impressive second-wicket stand worth 145 runs.

Worker's eventual dismissal took a brilliant catch - falling to a flying grab as Will Williams lept just inside the boundary rope.

Smith raced through the 90s and went on to produce his maiden List A century, off just 86 balls at a ground that has been his happy hunting ground in Ford Trophy cricket.

Worker's brutal hundred had flown off 107 balls, and the Cantabrians were left scurrying after runs in the field, with few chances offered, even when Worker fell over at the batting crease.

Even the dismissal of Smith on 100 didn't slow down the Stags' scoring rate, captain Tom Bruce strolling out with the luxury of runs on the board to add a quick 56 off just 28 balls as the Stags reached a massive 349/4 in their first innings of the summer, sent in to boot.

Now, if only the weather would play ball.

The players had no sooner taken the field for the chase than they were off again, before a ball was bowled.

Seth Rance and Ray Toole - one of three debutants in the Stags' attack, alongside left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox and medium pace allrounder Ryan Watson - eventually got through just 2.4 overs of play before the rain came back, leading to a washout and shared points, with no further play.

A day to remember all the same, and a statement made as the Stags head to Auckland for a big second round clash.

Article added: Sunday 17 November 2019