Cricket: Stags' bowling attack dented

Seth Rance.

Time is on the side of the Central Districts Stags but do they have the fortitude to dig their toes into the batting crease?

Canterbury Kings are leading by 207 runs with seven wickets in hand on day three today in the sides' four-day Plunket Shield match at Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Devon Hotel-sponsored CD coach Heinrich Malan last night revealed his bowling attack was dented with just two seamers and a spinner to do the hard yards.

"Seth Rance pulled a calf muscle in the first innings so it's pretty tough," Malan said of the Wairarapa seamer.

Enter batsmen Tom Bruce and Ben Smith to share the bowling workload with seamer Navin Patel (4-37) and Blair Tickner (2-48) although spinner Ajaz Patel took 2-81 from 24.1 overs, including six maidens, to help skittle Canterbury for 204.

"That's the nature of four-day cricket so the boys will be better for the exposure," Malan said.

Disappointingly the Stags' run chase again was below par. The visitors skittled them for 168 in their first dig with just skipper William Young the only to have anything to write home about after a knock of 81 runs from 141 balls.

"Youngy played really well and showed how if you put your mind to it and apply yourself then you can score runs.

"Unfortunately it's been an up-and-down season for us not just now but in all the formats," said Malan of CD who retained their Ford Trophy one-day title this month.

One thing is blatantly obvious in the CD mix - they desperately need a middle-order batsman in the mould of retired Kruger van Wyk.