Canterbury charge to a CD rematch

BY GEOFF LONGLEY

Last updated 05:00 10/02/2010

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INNINGS MAINSTAY: Top scorer Shanan Stewart hits another four on the way to his fourth one-day hundred.

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Canterbury gets another crack at their one-day nemesis this season, Central Districts, in a domestic semifinal at QEII's Village Green on Saturday after the dust settled on a dramatic day of final-round matches in the 50-over competition.

For much of their match against Wellington at the Village Green yesterday Canterbury were coming second after the rather makeshift visitors' lineup set the Wizards a hefty 300 to win.

Canterbury had looked vulnerable at 122 for four when opener Rob Nicol was dismissed at the start of the 26th over but Riccarton clubmates Shanan Stewart and Dean Brownlie teamed to pile on 169 for the fifth wicket to carry Canterbury to the verge of victory.

Results from the two other matches impacted on the play-off positions and even though Canterbury were first to win, they were uncertain of where and who they would be playing.

Only after Northern Districts beat competition leader Auckland at Whangarei and Otago staged a late comeback to pip Central Districts in New Plymouth did the play-off picture finally become clear.

Top qualifier Auckland (24) have a rematch against Northern (21) but this time in Auckland, while Canterbury rose to third on 19 points after Central's demise and will host CD which remained on 17.

Canterbury have been beaten both home and away by Central in the 50-over matches this season but will be hoping for a case of third time lucky.

Until Stewart and Brownlie began climbing into an underpowered Wellington attack it had looked as if Canterbury were going to lose and finish fourth and face an away semifinal.

Stewart was his typically aggressive self and when the batting power play was taken in the 41st over, he and Brownlie, who had then been together for 15 overs, lifted the tempo.

As he began his assault Stewart had the good fortune of being dropped on 42 by Dwayne Bowden at deep mid-off from Jeetan Patel's bowling. He made Wellington pay for a relatively straightforward spill by launching into the bowling as 62 was added in five overs.

The asking rate which had risen to double figures with about 10 overs to go suddenly became much more manageable as Stewart, ably assisted by the compact Brownlie, set about running the tough target down.

Stewart hoisted his fourth one-day domestic century in slightly fortunate fashion when Wellington coach Anthony Stuart, fielding for the injured Chris Nevin, put down a very hard running chance on the mid-wicket boundary.

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Stewart was dismissed soon after for 101 from 78 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, while Brownlie, who looked completely at home in just his second one-day match, saw the victory through with a composed unbeaten 86 from 73 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

The pitch certainly did few favours for the bowlers with Wellington's little known openers Stewart Rhodes and Michael Pollard showing little respect to New Zealand bowlers Shane Bond and Chris Martin.

After being sent in, Rhodes made a furious assault from the outset, thrashing his way to a half century from just 36 balls. Pollard was little inferior in his run rate and Wellington raced to 96 in the 11th over before the stand was broken.

Canterbury's bowlers made little impression with only the consistent Carl Frauenstein having any impact while Bond and Martin had days they would rather forget, leaking 63 and 66 runs respectively.

Wellington slowed somewhat but continued to build through Neal Parlane and Nevin who was forced to bat with a runner after pulling a quadricep muscle.

The Firebirds then accelerated again near the finish through left-handed Luke Woodcock who blitzed the Canterbury bowlers, blazing 53 from 29 balls, including four sixes and as many fours.

Wellington, which has had an injury-plagued season, suffered again when all-rounder Harry Boam suffered a groin strain in the warmups.

WELLINGTON

M Pollard c Nicol b Frauenstein53

S Rhodes c Myburgh b Frauenstein50

C Merchant run out28

N Parlane c Fulton b Martin57

S Murdoch run out7

C Nevin c Fulton b Bond36

L Woodcock c Fulton b Frauenstein53

D Bowden not out5

J Patel not out1

Extras (5lb, 3w, 1nb)9