KEY POINTS:
Canterbury vs Otago
Former New Zealand middle order batsman Craig McMillanis working himself slowly back into national contention, by all accounts, and hit a strong 69 as Canterbury Wizards took a 23-run win over the Otago Volts in State Shield cricket's opening round in Rangiora yesterday.
McMillan's knock, containing eight fours and a six, off 52 balls, and three top-order wickets by Hamish Bennett gave State Shield-holders Canterbury a comfortable victory.
A delayed start didn't help matters, reducing the match to 43 overs, but McMillan hewed away to help Canterbury to 238 for five.
Bennett kept the Volts from sparking too brightly in their turn at bat, slowing them right down by taking three key wickets in the opening five overs. Among them was the scalp of New Zealand opener Craig Cumming who was one of two wickets Bennett took with consecutive balls.
Aaron Redmond attempted to start a fightback with 53 and Greg Todd continued to take the fight to the hosts with 43.
Jordan Sheed contributed, seeing out the innings for an unbeaten 35. But Otago ran out of time and overs, allowing the 2006 winners to open their title defence in the best fashion.
Central vs Wellington
Grant Elliot's 78 was the difference between the two sides as the Wellington Firebirds beat the Central Stags at Nelson's Trafalgar Park.
Elliot was top score for the match in which Wellington met a revised total after rain cut their target to 232.
The Stags had made 241 for five in their 50 overs.
Mathew Sinclair returned to the side with good effect, making 67 in a century fourth-wicket stand with Greg Hay, who scored 55 in his State Shield debut.
Ewen Thompson's 50 not out made up the bulk of an unbroken stand of 74 with Bevan Griggs (20 not out).
But Elliot, supported by 49 from Stu Mills, helped Wellington to a strong position when they batted with the Duckworth-Lewis calculation helping - as it often does - the side batting second.
The victory was completed by Luke Woodcock who made 24 and Duwayne Bowden (21).
