Cricket: CD Stags calling Auckland Aces' bluff in Napier

CD seamer Navin Patel is reaping the benefits of the continuity of four-day Plunket Shield cricket with his career third five-wicket bag yesterday in Napier. Photo/NZME.

Okay, Auckland have been granted dispensation to differ but who says rain is a perennial party pooper when it comes to cricket?

The persistent drizzle on day one and a good part of yesterday morning has done anything but doused the flames in the final round Plunket Shield cricket match between the Central Districts Stags and Auckland Aces at McLean Park, Napier.

Desperately needing an outright victory against the hosts, the visitors stuttered towards a 200-9 declaration after resuming the day on 57-3 yesterday to attest to that mind set as contenders to prevent the Canterbury Kings from snatching the bling from them.

CD seamer Navin Patel last night agreed that inclement weather had eaten into time to prompt the Aces to dictate a cracking pace while the fifth-placed Stags' found themselves calling the visitors' bluff.

"The ball is definitely in Auckland's court because they don't want to have to try to force a result because it's always in our best interests to play four days of hard cricket so you never what can happen with two days to go," said Patel as the forecast today and tomorrow is godsend in Hawke's Bay.

CD resume on their overnight total of 65-1 this morning with opener Ben Smith on 25 runs and George Worker on 15 at first drop after opener Greg Hay had departed for 23 runs.

Canterbury will be rubbing their hands with glee as the Aces and Northern Districts Knights will dig deep to keep their fast-fading hopes alive.

Manawatu bowler Patel tormented Auckland batsmen yesterday with rookie Liam Dudding and fellow Bay seamer Blair Tickner taking two wickets each.

"It's always good to get wickets so I got five of them today so it's pretty special," said the 22-year-old after his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Patel, who is graduating from Victoria University in Wellington in May, is enjoying a study-free second half of the summer.

The right-arm, fast-medium bowler yesterday took 5-71 from 19 overs, including four maidens, in the absence of injured veteran Seth Rance while biding his time for some minutes on the park.

"I think that's the strength of the Stags that there's always good competition in the bowling department so you've always got to take the chances that may come," he said, believing his ability to play more consecutive games over four-day spells gave him that consistency and bowling fitness to claim scalps.

Tickner, Patel said, had assumed the mantle of senior seamer and had bowled his heart out and deserved more wickets than he got yesterday.

CD are in the strong but the lament of their coach, Heinrich Malan, will be ringing in their ears of a summer of "what-ifs" where they promised a lot but didn't cross the line when push came to shove.

"All the boys are keen to bat and just want to finish the season well so each of them will be hungry for runs," said Patel of the Stags who will have their season-ending prizegiving ceremony at the park tomorrow night.

ND are facing a herculean task after Anaru Kitchen blasted his maiden first-class double-century (207 runs) to put Otago on the front foot in Dunedin yesterday.

The Kings are facing an uphill battle in eking out victory over Wellington Firebirds but, needing only to match their pursuers' results, they would have been content with a position of parity at the halfway point.