Cricket: Ryder and Co put Kings to the sword

Jesse Ryder's purple patch has cut across all three formats of domestic cricket as he sends this ball to sender in CD's win over Canterbury Kings at Saxton Oval, Nelson, yesterday. Photo/Photosport

Nothing captures the essence of sport better than a team's exultation on how good it feels to chuck the proverbial monkey off the back.

"Yeah, it's a great feeling when it comes to the Twenty20 bash," said Central Districts Stags batsman Joshua Clarkson after they beat Canterbury Kings by eight runs in round two of the Burger King Super Smash at Saxton Oval, Nelson, yesterday.

"Obviously after the poor start against Auckland the other day, it's good to get a first win," said Clarkson, flirtatiously reflecting on their opening-round five-wicket loss to the Aces at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, last Wednesday.

In the currency of the abbreviated 20-over format, eight runs can be quite close, especially if you factor in how many extras (Kings 7, Stags 9) the sides gifted each other in the festive season but, suffice it to say, yesterday's game had a knife-edge feel about it as the visitors tried to chase down the 214-run target.

"It's pretty close and closer than we'd have liked it to be but there's nothing as good as an 18 to 20-run win, really," said the 20-year-old Nelson player after CD skipper William Young won the toss and elected to pad up for a handsome total of 213-5.

CD opening batsman Jesse Ryder tormented the Canterbury bowling attack to finish with 84 runs from 40 balls, including eight boundaries and six sixes at a strike rate of 210 runs per 100 balls.

Young, coming in after opener Ben Smith departed cheaply for 10 runs, watched the Ryder razzmatazz and ticked him over before producing his own fireworks with 53 runs (31 balls) at first drop.

Tom Bruce and Dane Cleaver came and went for nine each before Clarkson and Ben Wheeler saw CD through with unbeaten 28 (15) and 13 (7), respectively.

Anything under 10 an over from bowlers was kosher and only Kings captain Andrew Ellis and Tim Johnston managed that from a field of seven.

In juxtaposition, five out of six CD bowlers stayed below that ceiling as the top four Kings batsmen, including English import Ben Stokes, came and went for loose change.

No5 Cole McConchie (54) and No6 Cameron Fletcher (74 not out) threatened to do the unthinkable but Blair Tickner unsettled the former's furniture.

"They [CD bowlers] did really well because she was hitting it clean out there so the bowlers had to change a few of their plans and do some things a little different," Clarkson said, after Tickner and new-ball bowler Seth Rance both claimed 2-37 while Bevan Small took 1-29 off three overs, including the prized wicket of Stokes.

He said Stokes was a world-class cricketer so it was good to have his account cheaply.

CD coach Heinrich Malan had impressed on his men the need for one of three top-order batsmen to cash in.

"Jesse played an outstanding innings today and he made it look pretty easy out there to lay an awesome platform for us guys in the middle to let loose and have a bit of fun," he said of Ryder, who is putting his hand up in every format for national honours again.

Reflecting on himself, Clarkson said he hadn't played cricket since breaking his arm but was enjoying returning to the fray to help the collective.

"As long as the top order's doing well, I'm pretty happy down there," he said after his knock at No7.

Both teams reload at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, this Friday.

Akin to Saxton Oval, Clarkson said the ground near Christchurch was quite expansive and demanded players to adhere to the basics on a similar benign batting strip.