The Central Stags dismissed the Canterbury Wizards for 180 today and then hit the 28 runs required to wrap up a 10 wicket win with over a day to spare at MainPower Oval in Rangiora.
Canterbury never looked likely to last the day losing wickets on regular intervals. Kruger van Wyk was the best of the batting line up with 34.
Michael Mason picked up his 11th five wicket haul to set up the win – finishing with five for 42. Ewen Thompson and Seth Rance picked up two each.
Mason and Thompson now occupy the top two places in the Mitre 10 MVP.
Peter Ingram 16 and Jamie How 10 polished off the small total to hand them their first win of the year.
The Canterbury Wizards remain in fourth spot with the Central Stags one place behind in fourth.
Day 2: Canterbury Wizards 38 for two trail Central Stags by 116
Leighton Burtt took the final wicket to finish with well deserved figures of five for 108 but the Central Stags had a useful 325 on the board.
The Wizards made a shaky start to their reply losing their first six wickets for 79 runs.
Shannan Stewart was the only recognised batsman to put up any resistance with 65 and along with Brandon Hiini (38) put on a much needed 58 run partnership for the seventh wicket.
It wasn’t enough to avoid the follow on as they were rolled for 171 – 154 behind Central’s first inning total.
Seamer Ewen Thompson picked up three for 39 with part time bowler Mathew Sinclair sneering three for 29.
The Wizards lost both openers before the end of play and will resume tomorrow on 38 for two.
Day 1: Central Stags 305 for nine
The Central Stags made an excellent start to their innings after being put into bat against the Canterbury Wizards at MainPower Oval in Rangiora.
Openers Peter Ingram (41) and Jamie How (90) made the most of the same batter friendly pitch that yielded 1295 runs when Canterbury played Otago a fortnight ago.
Prolific run scorer Mathew Sinclair notched up another half century (his 58th) but his wicket sparked a collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 30 runs to finish the day on 305 for nine.
Leighton Burtt lead the fight back for Canterbury taking four for 103 with Andrew Ellis and Brandon Hiini picking up two apiece.
