Fingers crossed for blue skies today.
The Central Stags lead the Otago Volts by 297 runs with one wicket in hand heading into the final day of the Plunket Shield game at the University Oval.
The Volts have a task ahead of them — the weather forecast does not look much better — and need to dismiss the Stags early this morning to chase down the their total.
After posting a sub par 182 in their first innings, the Stags bounced back through the bat of Tom Bruce yesterday afternoon to post 325 for nine.
He will start the day on 99 runs in search of his ton.
The Volts started strong, taking four wickets before lunch, but a couple of key partnerships for the Stags, including Bruce’s involvement, helped set the defending champions up.
Openers Jack Boyle and Greg Hay set the platform, putting on 80 for the first wicket.
Boyle bounced back after his first innings duck, and was close to a half century, when he was caught by keeper Max Chu from the bowling of Jarrod McKay.
Chu was impressive with the gloves for the Volts, taking four catches.
That opening wicket gave the Volts some momentum and soon after Brad Schmulian skimmed a Jacob Duffy delivery straight to Chu.
Five runs later, Duffy bowled Hay for 39, smashing the wickets across the ground.
Bruce and Dale Cleaver stabilised things for the next wee while.
But Cleaver was the fourth to go, when Chu snaffled another, this time off the bowling of Luke Georgeson.
Cleaver looked frustrated at himself, kicking the ground before walking off.
Josh Clarkson settled the Stags again, combining with Bruce to put on 88 for the fifth wicket.
Clarkson eventually succumbed to Chu as well, thanks to a Dean Foxcroft delivery, but Bruce battled through.
Doug Bracewell (34) made a handy contribution until he was dismissed by Duffy.
Brett Randell (9), Ajaz Patel (5) and Blair Tickner (15) all went late in the day.
Duffy finished with figures of three for 58. McKay took two for 55 and Georgeson two for 35.
In the other games, Wellington bowler Nathan Smith took his fifth five-wicket bag as the Firebirds lead Northern Districts by 249 runs. The former Otago Volt has taken 18 wickets in three games already this season, an average of 12.5.
Auckland will resume with the bat this morning, trailing Canterbury by 28 runs with five wickets in hand. Canterbury declared 413 for nine in their first innings.
CENTRAL STAGS
First innings 182
OTAGO VOLTS
First innings 210
CENTRAL STAGS
Second innings 325 for nine
G Hay b Duffy 39
J Boyle c Chu b McKay 47
B Schmulian c Chu b Duffy 1
T Bruce not out 99
D Cleaver c Chu b Georgeson 12
J Clarkson c Chu b Foxcroft 52
D Bracewell c Phillips b Duffy 34
B Randell lbw b Georgeson 9
A Patel c Georgeson b McKay 5
B Tickner c McKay b Bacon 15
R Toole not out 0
Extras (lb 6, w 1, nb 5): 12
Total (9 wkts in 108 overs): 325
Fall: 1-80, 2-91, 3-96, 4-120, 5-208, 6-254, 7-273, 8-284, 9-318
Bowling: J Duffy 27-5-58-3, M Bacon 18-1-84-1, J Gibson 4-1-21-0, L Georgeson 21-8-35-2, J McKay 17-1-55-2, D Foxcroft 21-3-66-1
