Whanganui cricketer Ben Smith's first class season has got off to the worst possible start but it was made better by his Central Districts Stags getting their Plunket Shield defence off to a flyer.
Smith was out for a first ball duck in his only turn at bat as the defending champion Stags put on 352/7 declared batting first in the four-day match at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
But after losing two full days to rain, Central and Canterbury both declared an innings each without a ball being bowled, leaving the visitors a chase.
The result came down to the second-to-last over when Central took the last wicket with 207 on the board.
Central are at at the top of the table, tied on 16 points with Northern Districts, but ahead on run rate.
