Cricket: Big-hitting Taylor demoralises Wellington attack

Northern Districts' BJ Watling was run out yesterday. Photo / Jamie Troughton

Central Districts' heavy artillery all but fired in unison yesterday as they comfortably defended an imposing 208 for five against Wellington in their opening-round Twenty20 cricket clash in New Plymouth.

Peter Ingram, Jamie How and Ross Taylor took turns flaying a generous Wellington attack to knock the stuffing out of the visitors before they were confined to 189 for nine in reply, a distant 19 runs from victory.

Only Jacob Oram failed to fire for Central, though his dismissal for a single six balls after Taylor's punishing 47 from 25 deliveries was inconsequential. How and Ingram set the tone after Matthew Bell opted to bowl first, a decision he was left to rue as his seven-pronged bowling unit were generally pulverised.

How and Ingram creamed 81 from less than eight overs for openers before the former NZ international was trapped leg before wicket to Luke Woodcock's fourth delivery for an exceptional 37 from just 19 deliveries. He slugged a trio of boundaries and sixes, setting the template for Taylor to follow once he replaced pinch hitter Kieran Noema-Barnett in the 10th over.

Taylor's assault was so demoralising Wellington seamer Andy McKay lost his composure in his third over and was removed from the crease after twice being no balled for waist-high full tosses. McKay's 1.4 over leaked 22 and English import Owais Shah completed the over for the cost of 10 more.

Taylor eventually cracked three boundaries and cleared the ropes on four occasions as he added 75 for the third wicket with Ingram.

The opener was hardly outshone in the strike rate stakes, and top-scored with 70 from 59 deliveries.

Ingram departed in the penultimate over to leave a demoted Mathew Sinclair to hoist the 12th six of the innings.

Medium pacer Paul Hitchcock was the pick of the Wellington bowlers, taking two for 26 from four.

Jeetan Patel surrendered 34 from his two overs while Woodcock fared better with his slow left armers - finishing with three for 36.

Facing an ominous asking rate of 10.45, opener Neal Parlane slammed an admirable 69 from 39 with five boundaries and five sixes but when he was bowled by Ewan Thompson, Wellington still required 82 from 36 balls.

Hard-hitting left hander James Franklin was left to score the bulk of the shortfall, so when he exited for 47 in the 17th over, with 55 still required, the outcome was inevitable.

English professional Graham Napier proved tight bowling was possible at Pukekura Park by taking three for 22 from four overs.

Meanwhile, Otago wasted no time showing their championship qualities as they started the defence on their Twenty20 crown with a composed six-wicket defeat of Northern Districts at Mt Maunganui.

Despite losing batting spearhead Brendon McCullum to a contentious lbw decision at a crucial point of their run chase, Otago's other McCullum marshalled the overhauling of a middling 137 for seven with seven balls remaining at Blake Park.

Nathan McCullum was unbeaten on 38 at the close having shared an unbroken 71 run stand with Ian Butler for the fifth wicket from just 49 balls. They carried Otago to 140 for four.

Northern's tally always looked a touch on the light side, but when Daniel Vettori had a bemused Brendon McCullum on his way in the 11th over for 47 from 36 balls the New Zealand captain might have visualised back-to-back wins after Auckland were defeated by five runs in yesterday's competition opener.

However, the elder McCullum, who earlier delivered four miserly overs for 18, compensated for his sibling's demise by scoring at a run-a-ball. He rotated the strike expertly with Butler, who powered to 36 from 26 deliveries. Vettori's four overs cost 34 runs.

Tim Southee claimed an impressive three for 15 from his maximum allocation and gave Northern early encouragement by removing Neil Broom for five in the fifth over.

The right armer skittled Craig Cumming in his next over before the McCullum brothers steadied the pursuit with a 40-run stand. Anton Devcich top scored for Nothern with an unbeaten 37 from 34. However, the top order failed to fire.

BJ Watling was the key dismissal for 28 when he was needlessly run out after a dicey call by captain James Marshall, who was bowled by Broom six balls later. Broom took two for 19 from three overs of gentle spin.

- NZPA