Cricket: Revenge so sweet for Central Districts

A message on the whiteboard in the Central Districts cricket team's dressing room at the Basin Reserve yesterday said it all.

It reminded the players of their 10-wicket loss to Wellington in their previous visit to the ground in early December, and said it was payback time.

It helped provide the spur to Central's three-wicket victory over Wellington, a result that left the visitors unbeaten after two rounds in the State Shield one-day competition.

Most of the Central players would have been all too painfully aware of their loss to Wellington in their one-day game at the Basin last season when Central's innings of 58 was the lowest in inter-provincial one-day matches in New Zealand.

Central also secured a bonus point yesterday in reaching 188 for seven in 33.4 overs in response to Wellington's 185 for nine in 50 overs.

The seam bowlers received plenty of help and Central's Michael Mason made the most of it. The New Zealand 12th man in the tests against India had figures of three for 10 from his first seven overs.

Central's opening batting pair of Craig Spearman and teenager Jesse Ryder blitzed the hapless Wellington bowlers with a first-wicket stand of 110 from 86 balls.

The left-handed Ryder, 18, made a huge impact with his 51 from 48 balls in his second game for Central, hitting the ball with tremendous certainty, especially to leg.

Though Wellington recovered in taking seven Central wickets for 68, it was too late.

- NZPA