Day four: Devon Hotel Central Stags 307 (Kieran Noema-Barnett 74, James Neesham 4-79,) and 375-4 (Jamie How 207*, Kieran Noema-Barnett 69) beat Otago Volts 270-6 declared (Aaron Redmond 108, Jesse Ryder 100) and 277 (Jimmy Neesham 147, Michael Bracewell 46 by 126 runs.
The Central Stags have beaten the Otago Volts by 126 runs on
the final day of the Plunket Shield match at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
Having gone into the fourth day with a lead of 395, the Stags
allowed Jamie How (207*) to bring up his maiden First Class double-ton, before
declaring at 375 for four with an overall advantage of 412.
It was a huge target for the Volts, with time also against
them. A defiant knock of 147 from Jimmy Neesham kept the southerners with a
glimmer of hope for much of the innings, but the lack of a significant
partnership was their downfall.
A usually consistent top-order failed to fire, with three of
the top five getting ducks. Two of those were part of an astonishing Kieran
Noema-Barnett hatrick, which included the scalps of Neil Broom, Jesse Ryder and
Nathan McCullum.
It all but secured the Stags the win.
Neesham held on to hope with a belligerent 135 ball knock,
which featured four sixes and 17 fours. Unfortunately though he wasn’t getting
much help from the other end and eventually the Volts were dismissed for 277 in
the 90th over.
Rance was the best of the bowlers with figures of four for 82
from 21.1 overs, while Noema-Barnett had three and Tarun Nethula two.
The victory send the Stags into third, while the Volts hold
on to second but lose ground on the leading Canterbury Wizards.
Day three: Devon Hotel Central Stags 307 (Kieran Noema-Barnett 74, James Neesham 4-79,) and 359-3 (Jamie How 194*, Kieran Noema-Barnett 68*) lead Otago Volts 270-6 declared (Aaron Redmond 108, Jesse Ryder 100) by 395 runs.
An unbeaten knock of 194 from Jamie How has led the Central Stags to a dominant position heading into the final day of their Plunket Shield match against the Otago Volts.
Scorecard
The Stags are 359 for three in their second innings and hold an overall lead of 395, after the Volts declared at 270 for six to try and force a result from the game.
Centuries from Aaron Redmond (108) and Jesse Ryder (100*) saw the southerners come within 36 of the Stags first innings score, before skipper Derek de Boorder decided to roll the dice and declare. They knew they’d need early wickets if they were to have a chance, but How quickly took the game away from them.
The 32 year-old veteran brought up his 14th First-Class century after just 128 balls and by the end of the day had seen his side to safety. He’ll resume on day four needing six runs to bring up his first double-century.
Knocks by Greg Hay (63) and captain Kieran Noema-Barnett (68*) supported How well, with the latter backing up his 74 from the first-innings. He now faces a tough decision of when to declare, needing enough time to take 10 wickets, but not wanting to give the Volts a sniff in the pursuit.
Day two: Devon Hotel Central Stags 307 (Kieran Noema-Barnett 74, Ben Smith 54, Carl Cachopa 49, James Neesham 4-79, Nathan McCullum 3-36) lead Otago Volts 169-2 (Aaron Redmond 80*, Jesse Ryder 40) by 138 runs.
Stags skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett steered his side to 307 after a top order collapse on day two of their Plunket Shield match with the Otago Volts at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
After a rain-shortened first day, the home side resumed on 93-1 but were soon struggling at 121-4 after BLACKCAP James Neesham had ripped through the top order and been on a hat trick at one point.
But the skipper steadied the ship with a fine 74, well supported by Greg Hay (45), against a strong bowling effort led by Neesham and fellow BLACKCAP Nathan McCullum.
Neesham finished with 4-79 including the key wicket of Noema-Barnett while McCullum cleaned up the tail and finished with 3-36.
In reply, it was pretty smooth sailing for the Volts except for the early loss of Neil Broom for 12. Opener Aaron Redmond was unbeaten on 80 at stumps with Jesse Ryder alongside him on 40, as the visitors finished the day in a strong position at 169-2.
Day one: Devon Hotel Central Stags 93-1 (Ben Smith 43*, Carl Cachopa 36).
