Cricket: CD stags draw with Volts

HIGH FIVES: Otago Volts bowler Jacob Duffy (2nd from left) celebrates taking the wicket of a CD batsman at the University Oval, Dunedin in their Plunket Shield match. PHOTO/Otago Daily Times

The Central Districts Stags couldn't knock off two more wickets to eke out their second first-class victory this summer in a match reduced to a three-day affair in Dunedin today.

The Devon Hotel-sponsored Stags set a target of 343 runs for the SBS Bank Otago Volts on the final day after cptain William Young declared at 8-282 in their their second innings earlier in the day at the University Oval before the sides settled for a draw.

The hosts made a gallant chase but fell 38 runs shy of eclisping the target with two wickets in hand.

Otago opener Ryan Duffy scored his maiden first-class century to defy Stags bowlers while right-arm fast/medium bowler Jacob Duffy earlier took his fourth five-wicket bag in the Budget Rental Plunket Shield competition.

All of Thursday was lost to rain in the match without a ball bowled but the bold declaration almost delivered CD their second victory in the competition this season.

For the visitors, spinner Ajaz Patel continued his stellar summer with 4-80 in the Volts' second dig but the game's kudos went to another Patel, season newbie Navin, who claimed his maiden five-wicket bag and scored a milestone 47 runs at No 8 before falling prey to an Anaru Kitchen leg-before-wicket delivery.

Test seamer Doug Bracewell scored 67 runs in the second innings after Young's 83 on Good Friday.

If there's any consolation, CD retain their perch on the fifth rung of the shield ladder above last-placed Otago in what was a dead rlubber.

The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags now host the Mondiale Auckland Aces at McLean Park, Napier, in their season-ending match from Wednesday.

The Aces today won the shield after needing just a stalemate against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve to wrap up a productive season.

Auckland also won the glamorous Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 bragging rights this season.

The youthful Stags retained the one-day Ford Trophy.