Cricket: 'Awesome way' for Stags to wrap up season

Central Districts Stags' Ben Smith.

It wasn't a bigger party than the Auckland Aces' one but the Central Districts Stags had a memorable do in Napier last night at their annual awards.

The Devon Hotel-sponsored Stags put a dent in the Mondiale Aces' season on Saturday with a victory at McLean Park.

The Aces were on an unbeaten streak in the four-day Budget Rental Plunket Shield competition until then, as captain Michael Bates announced his retirement.

"It's an awesome way to finish the season," said CD captain William Young, in his rookie season at the helm, adding it was no mean feat to chase down 200 runs on a tired wicket from 48 overs in the last day.

The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags, Young revealed, had discussed the importance of beating the best first-class outfit in the competition.

For a predominantly young side, it was quite rewarding that everyone had contributed in some way to take the game away from the visitors.

"Dougie [Bracewell] bowled really well and then Smudge [Ben Smith] came in with the bat," he said of opening batsman Ben Smith who scored his fifth first-class century to finish the second highest run scorer in the format with 917 runs, which was the third highest in CD history below Martin Crowe (1348 runs) and another Ben Smith (939), an overseas import.

Young, who scored 909 in 2014-15, said the incumbent Smith's 61.13 average, below ND's Bharat Poli (1149, 67.58), was fantastic.

CD spinner Ajaz Patel claimed the format's most wickets crown with 43 scalps despite playing two fewer rounds.

"Jazz's 43 on the top of the table is a testament to his continuity and he stepped up when needed on green surfaces," he said.

It goes without saying Young is proud of his troops, some who put their hand up when injuries crept in. It was an opportunity for players such as Navin Patel (10th highest wicket taker with 27 scalps as well as collecting a five-wicket bag on Saturday), Mitchell Renwick and Liam Dudding, who were inexperienced but showed they are capable of matching it in first-class cricket.

CD, who finished fifth on the table, two points behind ND, were to announce their award winners last night.