Central take first-innings points

BY WAYNE MARTIN

Last updated 13:10 18/12/2009

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Nelson Mail

EYE ON THE BALL: Central Districts batsman Ryan Edwards in action at Saxton Oval.

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Central Districts A settled for first-innings honours after their three-day cricket match against Wellington A ended in a predictable draw at Saxton Oval yesterday.

The day's early focus had centred on Central batsman Chris Bartholomeusz' quest for a century after resuming the day unbeaten on 81.

Central Districts had ended day two at 145 for one – an overall lead of 205 runs after Wellington had conceded a 60-run first-innings advantage.

Bartholomeusz and his overnight partner David Meiring, unbeaten on 64, started the day with the promise of further spoils on offer. But it was a much tighter Wellington bowling attack that claimed the early initiative.

Meiring went in just the day's third over after adding only five more runs to his total. It ended a magnificent 150-run second-wicket stand between the pair, although the biggest prize followed seven overs later when Bartholomeusz was out for 90, the Nelson right-hander adjudged lbw as Central's innings slumped to 168 for four.

With skipper Sam Curtis dismissed previously for five, James de Terte (35) and Nelson's Ryan Edwards (15) added a further 38 runs for the fifth wicket before Edwards was trapped lbw.

Nelson allrounder BJ Barnett compiled a breezy 32 runs off 32 balls, including six fours, before an unbeaten 31-run eighth-wicket stand between Travis Stewart (20 not out) and Seth Rance (17 not out) finally prompted the declaration at 292 for seven.

Left an imposing 353-run target off 54 overs for an unlikely victory, Wellington never entertained any thought of a chase, particularly after again losing early wickets at 19 for two.

Fraser Colson and skipper Michael Pollard at least took the opportunity to spend time in the middle, the pair showing admirable early restraint before launching a late attack against Central's slower bowlers.

The pair added 106 runs for the third wicket, finally broken when Pollard was stumped advancing to part-time offspinner Curtis for 51, having hit seven fours off 86 balls.

Colson completed a superb double, complementing his first innings score of 81 with an unbeaten 67 in the second, hitting 10 fours and three mighty sixes off 112 balls.

Much of the carnage was directed at Central's left arm spinner Andrew Mason.

Looking composed at none for 20 off 10 overs, including five maidens, the Taranaki spinner conceded 35 runs off his next four overs as Colson and Pollard dramatically increased the tempo.

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With little further to be gained, stumps were finally drawn after 42 overs with Wellington at 129 for three.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A first innings 258

WELLINGTON A first innings 198

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A second innings (contd at 145 for 1)

C Bartholomeusz lbw b Chan90

D Robinson c Colson b Burns0

D Meiring c and b Burns69

S Curtis c Karaitiana b Burns5

J de Terte b Houghton35

R Edwards lbw b Twigg15

B Barnett lbw b Houghton32