A combined effort with the ball has allowed Central to fight off Canterbury’s advances and claim an eight run victory in their fifth round match of the Provincial A at Lincoln.
Greg Hay was once again inspiring with the bat, posting an unbeaten 90 to help Central finish 241 for nine after 50 overs. In reply, Canterbury went close but fell just short and were held to 233 for nine.
Shanan Stewart and Henry Nicholls played with caution for a start in the pursuit, having seen both their openers dismissed cheaply. Stewart in particular found the going tough at the start, but contributed a helpful 47 from 86 balls.
For the third straight game Henry Nicholls notched up his 50, but will be frustrated to once again not have gone on to bigger things after being dismissed by Ajaz Patel on 60.
Cole McConchie (31) and Ben McCord (26) chipped in with handy cameos towards the end, but the run-rate had ballooned with the constant loss of wickets and they were helpless as the home side finished less than ten runs away from victory.
The Central bowling attack shared the wickets, but Andrew Mathieson was the leader of the group, taking three wickets in his nine overs for 48.
Earlier, it had been a two man show for Central, with Hay and opener David Meiring putting on 128 for the second wicket.
Meiring went for 75 from 90 deliveries, but Hay remained and worked one end diligently, while often watching his team-mates fall at the other.
Wicket-keeper Sebastian Langridge offered some support down the order with 27, but it was largely left down to Haye, who remained a constant threat to the Canterbury bowlers.
In the end he finished 90 not out off 119 balls, but had it not been for his innings Central would likely have finished well short of 200.
Youngster Theo van Woerkom grabbed a team high three wickets in his ten overs for 41 runs, while spinner Tim Johnston snared two scalps.
