Cricket: How leads CD to convincing victory over Canterbury

Jamie How blazed a cracking 95 as Central Districts walloped Canterbury by seven wickets in their State Championship match in Napier yesterday.

The hosts made easy work of passing Canterbury's 162 in the 40th over with How, who debuted for the Black Caps against Sri Lanka late last month, leading the charge from the start.

He was eventually run out in the 33rd over with the hosts 137-2 but the skipper had already directed his side to victory as Canterbury's attack was smashed to all parts of McLean Park.

Central Districts failed to gain a bonus point when Ross Taylor was run out for 20 on the final ball of the 39th over but the win was enough for them to secure top spot on the table after seven matches.

Mathew Sinclair hit the winning runs to finish 20 not out and Central Districts 163-4 but How can take the plaudits for the comfortable win.

He scored the opening 49 runs as fellow opener Geoff Barnett was reduced to a bystander and he soon raised his half century in the 11th over from 48 balls with nine boundaries. When his 114-ball innings was ended with a direct hit from Carl Anderson, How had posted 14 fours and one six.

How showed there were few demons in the pitch, although Canterbury struggled as they flirted with their lowest one-day total of 75 - achieved in the 1973/74 season - when they crumbled to 49-6. Lance Hamilton, who finished with 3-33, made early inroads, removing both openers, Shanan Stewart and Nathan Astle with just 17 on the board. Craig McMillan and Peter Fulton looked to have steadied the innings when they took Canterbury to 46.

But Fulton, who plundered his maiden international one-day century on the same pitch 13 days ago against Sri Lanka, could not repeat the heroics when he was caught at mid-off by How for 23 trying to smash Michael Mason. McMillan followed shortly afterwards for 17 and Canterbury were soon reeling at 48-5 when Chris Cairns fell attempting to steer a shot but was nabbed at first slip Ross Taylor off Hamilton.

McCullum then departed for a duck and Canterbury, with seven either current or former Black Caps, were in a tailspin before Chris Harris, with firstly Carl Anderson, and then Paul Wiseman combined to prevent a total collapse before the visitors were dismissed in 48.4 overs.

Harris top-scored with 63.

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Otago cantered to a six-wicket victory over Wellington in the race for a State Shield playoff spot. The visitors produced a measured response in chasing Wellington's 227-8 at the Basin Reserve, overhauling the hosts in 45.1 overs with Neil Broom hitting an unbeaten 48. .

Aaron Redmond led the charge with 63, while Jonathan Trott, who earlier took 3-33, compiled a patient 43 as Otago made 230.

Black Caps slow bowler Jeetan Patel conceded 54 runs from his spell but took three scalps as the remainder of the Wellington attack failed to fire. James Franklin struck early when Chris Gaffaney was bowled without scoring but it proved to be a momentary blip as Craig Cumming and Redmond posted 77 for the second wicket,

Both Redmond and Trott offered return catches to Patel but Otago were rarely troubled in their chase, to post their fourth win from seven matches. They can improve their win ledger on Wednesday when they face bottom-placed Auckland.

Wellington's next opponents are Canterbury on Wednesday.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY