Cricket: Central Stags lose by nine wickets to Wellington Firebirds in Ford Trophy

Ben Smith

The Central Stags could not bat their way out of the deep hole as their Ford Trophy game against the Wellington Firebirds ended a day early with a nine wicket loss at the Basin Reserve.

Coming off for bad light on Monday afternoon, the Stags were 124-2 in the 33rd over of their second innings, requiring 202 runs to make Wellington bat again after they had raised 298 in response to the visitor's collapse for 96 on Sunday.

Unreal Grass Wicket Wanganui batsman Ben Smith had just joined leading hope in Nelson-based skipper Greg Hay (54).

However, the following Tuesday morning Hay would not add to his score, while Smith (14) and fellow Whanganui Collegiate old boy Tom Bruce (11) would eventually succumb to Black Cap Jimmy Neesham (3-65), who took six wickets in the match overall for a personal best in 1st class cricket.

Smith was desperately unlucky to inside edge a lifting Neesham ball back onto his stumps, while Bruce swung through the line and gave an easy catch to the wicketkeeper.

The Stags continued to struggle after that, with only Hawke's Bay's Brad Schmulian (68 not out) able to the hold the line, but eventually running out of partners, as his side was dismissed for 254 inside of 74 overs.

Needing only 53 runs for victory, the Firebirds had wrapped up their run chase in just the 17th over, although they did lose Fraser Colson caught behind to give Nelson's Willem Ludick his fourth wicket of the match.

However, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway ticked off the remaining 31 runs required for victory in brisk order for the easy win.

This season's introduction of a new style of Kookaburra ball, with an extra layer of lacquer, saw late swing come into play at a green Basin Reserve, which led to the Stags woes on Day 1 from which they couldn't recover.

The Firebirds win saw them move 13 points clear at the top of the points table.