Cricket: It's a day to remember for CD in State Shield triumph

Central Districts, regarded as an unfashionable side in national cricket, turned Cinderella and spoiled Canterbury's ball in Christchurch yesterday.

Producing the most astonishing 15-over opening stanza seen at domestic level, Central soared to 147 without loss on the back of brilliant innings from Craig Spearman and Jamie How.

These powered Central Districts to 354-5, the second-highest limited-overs score at provincial level in this country and a score which has never been overtaken before in New Zealand.

While Canterbury went down swinging, the enormous target proved too much as the home side were dismissed for 255 in the 42nd over to lose by 99 runs in the State Shield final.

Central captain Jacob Oram later noted his team were regarded as unfashionable is many quarters.

Thrust together from far-flung areas from the top of the South Island and the middle of the North Island, the players seemed to thrive on adversity.

Not for them the comfort of spending some time during the series at home - the entire team have been on the road throughout the campaign since Christmas.

Nor do they have a ground they can call home, as they play at various venues during their season.

But such is the talent and togetherness of the team cobbled under coach Mark Greatbatch that they toppled a Black Caps-laden Canterbury side carrying the favourites tag.

The odds appeared against them, too, from the game's outset after Central lost the toss and Canterbury sent them in.

But Canterbury's bowlers were unable to find the right direction on a potentially helpful surface and were plundered.

Jamie How set the ball rolling in the early stages, with Spearman soon joining in.

Canterbury had several chances to stop the advance, but How was dropped on 23 when offering a comfortable catch at second slip to Michael Papps, and two later run-out throws were astray.

Spinner Paul Wiseman was introduced for the 14th over and was immediately taken out of the attack when Spearman smacked 30 runs off his six balls.

It was the most expensive over in limited-overs history in New Zealand.

When Spearman was dismissed for 85, from just 48 balls with 10 fours and five sixes, Central Districts were 155 for one after 17.1 overs, a record first-wicket partnership for the province.

How and Ross Taylor then settled in to inflict more misery on Canterbury's bowlers as the former advanced to 92, with 15 fours from 113 balls, while he put on 89 with Taylor.

Taylor's golden summer continued, with the 19-year-old slamming 95 from 86 balls.

- NZPA

Highest scores in domestic one-dayers

376-3: Central Districts v Otago, New Plymouth, 1996-97.

354-5: Central Districts v Canterbury, Christchurch, 2003-04.

339-5: Central Districts v Otago, Hastings, 1998-99.

329-5: Canterbury v Northern Districts, Christchurch, 1995-96.

318-5: Auckland v Northern Districts, Auckland, 2000-01.

313-7: Canterbury v Northern Districts, Timaru, 1993-94.

309-8: Auckland v Northern Districts, Gisborne, 1982-83.

309-8: Canterbury v Wellington, Christchurch, 2003-04.

309-6: Canterbury v Central Districts, Christchurch, 1994-95.

308-9: Wellington v Canterbury, Christchurch, 2003-04.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS

C. Spearman c Harris b Cairns 85

J. How lbw b Wisneski 92

R. Taylor c Martin b McMillan 95

M. Sinclair not out 40

J. Oram c Fulton b Cairns 0

G. Sulzberger run out 9

J. Englefield not out 16

Extras (1b, 4lb, 10w, 2nb) 17

Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 354

Fall: 1/155, 2/244, 3/301, 4/301, 5/315.

Bowling: W. Wisneski 10-0-74-1 (1nb, 3w), C. Martin 10-0-75-0 (6w), C. Cairns 10-1-66-2, C. Harris 10-0-47-0 (1nb, 1w), P. Wiseman 3-0-37-0, C. McMillan 7-0-50-1.

CANTERBURY

M. Papps c Sinclair b Mason 0

B. McCullum c Englefield b Oram 34

S. Stewart lbw b Mason 2

P. Fulton c Sinclair b Sulzberger 59

G. Stead c Furlong b Oram 2

C. McMillan c Hamilton b Furlong 19

C. Cairns c Oram b Schwass 35

C. Harris c Mason b Oram 35

P. Wiseman run out 50

W. Wisneski not out 4

C. Martin b Schwass 1

Extras (3b, 6lb, 1nb, 4w) 14

Total (41.2 overs) 255

Fall: 1/2, 2/16, 3/49, 4/62, 5/100, 6/157, 7/157, 8/248, 9/251.

Bowling: M. Mason 8-1-37-2, L. Hamilton 5-0-41-0 (1nb), J. Oram 6-0-44-3 (1w), C. Furlong 7-0-48-1, A. Schwass 7.2-0-44-2, G. Sulzberger 8-0-32-1 (3w).