Cricket: Canterbury shut out charging Wellington

Harry Boam was summoned only for the final day as a replacement for Luke Ronchi. Photo / Thinkstock

Canterbury held off a valiant charge by Wellington to win their Plunket Shield encounter by 20 runs at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Wellington began the day on 13-0 in pursuit of 384 for victory and openers Michael Papps and Josh Brodie gave them a solid start before Brodie was dismissed for 15.

Papps carried on to make 65 before he eventually departed, while Jesse Ryder came and went as he added a brisk 31 from only 29 balls.

At 159-5 Wellington did not look as if they would make a good go of their chase but Grant Elliott (91) and Harry Boam (66) added 100 runs for the sixth wicket.

When Elliott went it was left up to Boam and the tail to try to get Wellington home but Boam was trapped in front by Ronnie Hira for 66 and, with his departure, Wellington's chances of victory evaporated.

Boam was summoned only for the final day as a replacement for Luke Ronchi, who flew to Whangarei to join the New Zealand XI ahead of theirtwo T20 games against England this week.

Wellington tail-ender Mark Gillespie slashed his way to 63 as the home side caught a sniff of a chance, but when seamer Ryan McCone bowled Gillespie the game was over.

Canterbury's spinners Hira and Todd Astle combined to take six wickets, while McCone ended with 3-26.