Cricket: Solid batting backbone carries CD to position of strength

NAPIER - A string of solid partnerships carried Central Districts into a sound position against Canterbury at stumps on day one of their Shell Trophy cricket second round match at McLean Park yesterday.

Half centuries from lefthanders Glen Sulzberger and captain Jacob Oram were the foundation for the defending champions' 304 for six from 100 overs.

Sulzberger - after scores of 76 and 139 against Northern Districts in their three-wicket first round win - batted determinedly for 65 from 137 balls to spearhead a consolidating exercise after the loss of three wickets late in the first session.

He and Mark Douglas, who scored 46, put on 68 for the fourth wicket before Oram joined his in-form Manawatu team-mate to add 65 for the fifth wicket.

After the loss of Sulzberger, Oram took charge and dominated a 53-run, sixth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Martyn Sigley.

Oram, severe on anything short from the Canterbury bowlers, looked particularly impressive and was joined by allrounder Campbell Furlong late in the day in another blossoming partnership. Oram was unbeaten on 77 at stumps.

But it was the Sulzberger-Douglas stand which was critical in setting the Stags up for a good first innings score. Douglas adopted the role of aggressor after a streaky start and worked effectively through a difficult period before lunch and into the middle session cut short by two brief but play-stopping downpours.

Douglas hit six fours and a nicely-timed six off seamer Stephen Cunis over the long off boundary in reaching the 3000-run milestone for Central in first class games.

Sulzberger, who hit six boundaries, was on course for another century until he committed his first real mistake of the day - chipping an easy catch to mid-wicket.

Canterbury had inserted Central after winning the toss, making the breakthrough with the score on 65 when openers David Kelly and Joe Hill were dismissed in successive overs from Cunis.

The visitors also had further cause for optimism when test hero Mathew Sinclair was dismissed for eight to have the Stags teetering at 89 for three before the innings solidified.

Martin toiled 29 overs for his two for 75 while Cunis and rookie Hayden Shaw also earned two wickets apiece for helping shoulder most of the work with the ball.

- NZPA