Cricket: Canterbury in easy stroll to victory

An outstanding innings by Brad Doody and an excellent fielding display saw Canterbury stroll home by eight wickets over Central Districts in their Shell Cup Cricket match in Timaru yesterday.

Central's hopes took a big blow when Central strike bowler Michael Mason broke his ankle attempting a difficult caught-and-bowled chance from Canterbury opener Nathan Astle in his second over.

Canterbury were set a total of just 160 for victory after Central struggled to get their innings going on a wicket which offered assistance to the bowlers.

While it flattened out later in the day, Central had the worst of it and reached their total only thanks to a 50-run partnership off 79 balls between captain Jacob Oram and Glen Sulzberger.

Oram was caught in the deep off Astle's bowling for 33 and Sulzberger was trapped lbw for 30 off Chris Harris' first delivery.

Ryan Burson, returning to the Canterbury team for the first time this season after an injury lay-off, did the early damage by taking 3-18 off his six overs. Central were on the rack at 55-5 in the 16th over.

With Sulzberger and Oram at the crease, Central started to settle, , but the introduction of left arm spinner Carl Anderson and Harris had immediate success.

In the Canterbury reply, Gareth West had Nathan Astle, 20, and Aaron Redmond, four, both caught at mid-off to see Canterbury at 51 for two after 12 overs.

But the next partnership between Doody, 96, and captain Gary Stead, 32, was never broken as the pair worked clinically towards victory in 33.2 overs, Doody taking charge with Stead set to work the ball around.

Doody, who ruined West's bowling figures by scoring the majority of the 29 runs off his last three overs, smashed 13 fours and a towering six.

- NZPA