Cricket: Central back on top of the table

The changing of the guard at the top of the State Shield race continued yesterday with the Central Stags, who won the top-of-the-table clash with the Northern Knights, back on top and on course to host this month's final.

Canterbury kept themselves in the race with an away win over Wellington after the home side had threatened to win comfortably at the Basin Reserve.

In a match at the other end of the table, Otago continued Auckland's misery with victory in Oamaru, but that was not be enough to get them into a challenging position for the top-three playoffs.

Auckland, desperate to get something from their one-day campaign, could not have had a worse start.

Matt Horne, one of their better performers in a sorry season, and promoted from No 4 to open the innings, was cleaned out by the first ball of the match by left-armer David Sewell.

When Sewell claimed a second, trapping Rob Nicol leg-before, and Jeff Wilson quickly removing Aaron Barnes, Auckland were back in familiar territory at 26 for three.

Amid the chaos Richard Jones stood firm and in newcomer Carl Cachopa found a much-needed ally.

They added 138 for the fourth wicket, with 18-year-old Cachopa making a richly-deserved half-century.

Tama Canning joined Jones and helped push the score towards 200.

But the loss of Canning and Jones took any remaining momentum from the innings which at least ran its course to reach 236 for nine.

Jones, with 11 fours and a six, batted for almost three hours (113 balls) for 92 and Canning better than a run-a-ball for 25.

In reply, Otago were given another flying start by captain Craig Cumming and Chris Gaffney.

They posted 74 for the first wicket - reaching 50 inside 10 overs - before Kerry Walmsley, who played only after passing a late fitness test, had Gaffney well-taken by wicketkeeper Reece Young for 28.

Cumming went on to post his 10th half-century in one-day matches, eventually reaching a career-high 80 before falling to a good Cachopa catch.

Otago got home by three wickets with 3.1 overs to spare.

Northern, sent in at QEII Park in Masterton, fell victim to some accurate bowling from Brendon Diamanti, who removed Northern's top order as they slumped for 46 without loss to 74 for five.

At 102 for six, the visitors were in big trouble, but clawed their way back to some respectability with a 96-run seventh-wicket partnership between Scott Styris (43) and Peter McGlashan (65), but their eventual 215 for nine did not appear to be a winning total.

Central lost Craig Spearman early, but then took control as Jamie How and Ross Taylor, who was dropped twice, added 172 for the second wicket.

Taylor almost did it on his own, reaching 99, with fours and two sixes from 108 deliveries, before falling to a catch at the wicket.

His dismissal signalled the start of a mini-collapse as Central continued their chase for a bonus point.

In the end they got home by five wickets, but without the bonus.

A century from opener Michael Papps laid the foundation for Canterbury's impressive 278 for nine at the Basin Reserve.

Wellington, who did not lose their first wicket until 107, went down by one wicket in reaching 263 for nine.

The next round

Tomorrow

Canterbury v Auckland, Christchurch
Otago v Central Districts, Invercargill

Friday

Northern Districts v Wellington, Taupo