Big BLAIR TICKNER is back from New Zealand A and keen to put some Firebirds on the BBQ this Tuesday.

The Central Stags have yet to notch a win after three rounds of this season's Ford Trophy, but ran the Firebirds close in Palmerston North on Sunday after a strong start from BAYLEY WIGGINS, GEORGE WORKER and BEN SMITH with the bat and some superb spin at the death from Worker and a lean, mean JAYDEN LENNOX.

Worker and Lennox each snared two wickets with Lennox stepping up and going for just RPO 2.80 off his 10 overs - despite bowling at the death against a set batsmen, Jakob Bhula who finished unbeaten on 97*, and big-hitting allrounder Jamie Gibson.

JAYDEN LENNOX & BAYLEY WIGGINS CELEBRATE A WICKET | PHOTOSPORT

Tickner is the only change/addition to Sunday's squad which sees 12 become 13 as the Stags look forward to their last outing on Fitzherbert Park of the regular season schedule - free admission from 11am.

A great atmosphere and attendance at Fitzy Park on a sunny Sunday morning made for a fine start to the third round contest, with a warmer subtropical airflow set to sweep over the park for tomorrow's rematch against the Birds.

Young Bhula might be wondering when, if ever, he's going to crack three figures against the Central Stags after 21-year-old again missed out on an opportunity to grab a maiden century yesterday.  

Bhula was dismissed on 99 in Lincoln against the Stags last year and left stranded on 97 not out this time aound, the key difference being that this time he had closed out a tight win to get the Firebirds on the board.

The result leaves the Central Stags as the only side yet to get a win heading into Tuesday, but they had their chances with some big hits and top wickets along the way.

Stags captain Tom Bruce had won the toss and batted with Wiggins creaming the first six off Hamish Bennett in just the fourth over, and dependable star opener Worker carrying on to a half century off the back of his 14th List A hundred in the previous game.

GEORGE WORKER | PHOTOSPORT

Ben Sears broke the opening stand at the end of the 10th over with Wiggins caught on 30 at 54/1.

Worker (52) recombined with Ben Smith (79) at a ground at which each has had success in the past, putting on 69-stand for the second.

However, when Worker became the first of three victims for the day for legspinner Peter Younghusband, the innings lost its momentum.

Younghusband was in for a busy day, pouching a  lofted catch in the deep to put a stop to the dangerous big-hitter Josh Clarkson as he looked to add impetus to the run rate with a quick 39 off 29 balls.

And, Younghusband had just helped run out a sprawling Joey Field with a sharp throw to boot.

The Stags got up to 261 for nine in their 50 overs, with a helpful late burst of 19* off 11 from Liam Dudding, but would have been disappointed after having been set for a score of 300-plus.

As the weather started to cloud over and cool across the late afternoon, the Firebirds warmed up for the reply with the inimitable opener Andrew Fletcher ensuring they got off to a solid start, his well paced half century coming off 70 balls.

He shared a 51-stand with Lauchie Johns who became the first to fall when he was run out by Seth Rance in freakish fashion, while Fletcher went on to put on 65 for the second with Bhula that took the Firebirds into the 24th over at 116 for two.

The partnerships kept piling up on the Stags, Bhula next finding support from his captain Michael Bracewell for a 53-run stand for the third.

Bhula kept on going, his half century arriving off 72 balls before the test from the spinners towards the end of the match put the result in the balance.

JAYDEN LENNOX | PHOTOSPORT

The Firebirds needed seven an over through the death, with Lennox making that as difficult as possible to achieve.

He bowled Fraser Colson for his second wicket in the 44th, but the arrival of Gibson meant the Firebirds had a good finisher at the crease at a timely moment.

Gibson pumped an unbeaten 27* off just 18 balls, including a six off Seth Rance that left Bhula without the chance to get across the line for his century.

But the unbeaten first drop did get to hit the winnings runs, peeling back to back boundaries off the next two balls to finish on 97 not out off 114.

SCORES

It was a tough Sunday for Central with the Central Hinds also suffering their first loss of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield against Wellington in nearby Levin, despite a record 111-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Hannah Rowe and Georgia Atkinson who both scored invaluable maiden half centuries down the order.

The Hinds are second on the national ladder and will aim to reclaim the top slot in Dunedin in two weeks' time

CENTRAL STAGS SQUAD

ROUND FOUR

11am • Tuesday 8 December 2020

v Wellington Firebirds at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Admission: FREE

Tom Bruce (c)

Josh Clarkson

Liam Dudding

Joseph Field

Jayden Lennox

Christian Leopard

Seth Rance

Brad Schmulian

Ben Smith

Blair Tickner

Ray Toole

Bayley Wiggins (w)

George Worker

Unavailable for selection

Ross Taylor, Will Young (BLACKCAPS)

Dane Cleaver, Doug Bracewell (NZA)

Ben Wheeler, Ajaz Patel (injury)

Adam Milne (BBL)

Full schedule: http://www.cdcricket.co.nz/Fanzone-1/Events-whats-on

Livescoring:  https://scoring.nzc.nz/centraldistricts

Twitter and Instagram updates: @CentralStags

Official hashtags: #FordTrophy #LoveTheStags

Article added: Monday 07 December 2020