Cricket: One run saves CD follow-on

Central Districts narrowly avoided the follow-on but Wellington remained in charge after the third day of their Shell Trophy cricket match in Napier yesterday.

Wellington were 85 for two in their second innings at stumps, holding an overall lead of 234 and looking to dictate terms today.

The competition leaders dominated for the third successive day with early wickets to put the home side under pressure as offspinner Jeetan Patel, aged 20, claimed the second five-wicket bag of his fledgling career.

Central resumed their first innings at 151 for three in chase of Wellington's 415.

The visitors threatened to have Central in deep trouble with the key wickets of Glen Sulzberger and Martyn Sigley just before and after the lunch break.

But No 8 Ewen Thompson led a lower-order rearguard action as Central, at one stage teetering at 202 for eight, avoided the follow-on by just one run.

His 30 not out from nearly 100 minutes and 76 balls was backed up by fellow pacemen Mike Mason and Taraia Robin.

Mason scored 17 as he helped to add 35 in 40 minutes for the ninth wicket.

Teenager Robin then contributed 14 with Thompson in a 29-run stand for the last wicket to frustrate Wellington's attempt to take a firmer grip on the game.

Sulzberger had made 44 to lead Central's battle for survival in the first session and his departure to a fine return catch by Patel just before lunch was a major blow.

It left Central at 195 for six at the break, still 70 runs short of the follow-on target and missing skipper Jacob Oram, who was called into the New Zealand one-day side.

Oram's mid-game replacement, Greg Todd, scored only two and it was left to Thompson and company to launch the rescue operation.

Patel, who claimed his first five-wicket bag in his debut against Auckland last season, dismissed Robin to finish with figures of five for 48 from 23.4 overs.

- NZPA