DAY FOUR: Canterbury 269 all out and 412-7 declared beat Devon Hotel Central Stags 305 and 274 all out by 102 runs at Hagley Oval.
Canterbury left it late to take the last Stags wicket at Hagley – there were only four overs remaining when Ajaz Patel, who had held out for almost an hour with his skipper Kruger van Wyk to defy the hosts, edged Todd Astle to Neil Broom at second slip to be dismissed for eight from 33 balls and end the match.
van Wyk was not out 74 from 177 balls and had done all but enough to give his side a share of the points. His side had been set 377 for the win on the final day after an overnight declaration from Canterbury that included Peter Fulton’s unbeaten 209.
Jamie How made 82, but the rest of the top order struggled, with Hamish Bennett and Ryan McCone among the wickets early. Will Young (47) and Ben Wheeler (27) were able to hold out for long periods of time, but the rest of the Stags batsmen lost their wickets in clumps, with Logan van Beek (4-53) the top wicket taker.
Despite Canterbury’s win, they sit two places behind the Stags in the table for now.
DAY THREE: Canterbury 269 all out and 412-7 (Peter Fulton 209*, Doug Bracewell 3-84, Ajaz Patel 3-105) lead Devon Hotel Central Stags 305 by 376 runs at Hagley Oval.
Peter Fulton’s unbeaten 209 dominated day three. After a short ground delay at the start of play, Fulton resumed on 20 and set about building his mammoth innings.
He did it largely on his own, as the Stags bowlers were able to make their inroads at the other end. Nightwatchman Hamish Bennett battled for 112 balls for his 20, before falling lbw to Doug Bracewell.
It was the spin of Ajaz Patel that proved the most effective, as he picked up three wickets, including that of Andy Ellis, who was resolute for his 32 from 73 balls.
But day three was really the Peter Fulton show, as the big man plundered 20 fours and five sixes, bringing up his hundred from 202 balls just before drinks in the middle session, them pushing on to make his double ton just before the close of play from 353 balls.
His efforts have given his side a big lead of 376, with three wickets in hand and control of the match, with a day to bowl at the Stags should they want it.
DAY TWO: Canterbury 269 all out and 70-2 lead Devon Hotel Central Stags 305 all out (Will Young 82, Kieran Noema-Barnett 69, Hamish Bennett 3-66, Ryan McCone 3-57) by 34 runs at Hagley Oval.
Ryan McCone and Hamish Bennett took three wickets each as Canterbury take a 34 run lead into the third day with Peter Fulton not out on 20 alongside nightwatchman Bennett.
Will Young was the pick of the visitors batsmen with a patient 82 from 141 balls, while Kieran Noema-Barnett was more attacking with 66 from 88 balls that included nine fours and a six.
With nine men down Central were looking at a first innings deficit, but Seth Rance’s whirlwind 33 from 17 balls took them into the lead.
Doug Bracewell was as hard for the Canterbury batsmen to handle as in the first innings, taking Ronnie Hira (37) and Greg Dawson (2), both caught by Kruger van Wyk.
DAY ONE: Canterbury 269 all out (Peter Fulton 76, Doug Bracewell 6-41) lead Devon Hotel Central Stags 40-2 (Ryan McCone 2-6) by 229 runs at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Doug Bracewell took the first five Canterbury wickets on a Hagley Oval pitch that was offering assistance for the bowlers right until the end of the day.
Bracewell's first victim was Ronnie Hira, who edged the third ball of the day to Kruger van Wyk for a duck. Greg Dawson and Peter Fulton scored 77 together before the former went lbw to Bracewell for 27, while Fulton went in the same fashion for 76.
Canterbury were 157-5 when Neil Broom went for 33, but handy late order runs from Andy Ellis (24), Todd Astle (20) and Logan van Beek (39) lifted the home team to 269.
Bracewell finished with 6-41, his sixth first class five wicket bag.
In reply, Central ended the day at 40-2, with McCone picking up both wickets for just six run. Jamie How (21*) and Will Young (5*) will resume on day two. With the pitch still offering some help to the bowlers, they will need to be watchful to reel in Canterbury's lead.
