The Otago Volts and Central Stags played out a draw on day four of their Plunket Shield match at University Oval in Dunedin.
Having claimed a first-innings total of 137, the Volts needed out the Stags cheaply for any chance of victory. Unfortunately they could not create the collapse required, with the Stags finishing the matches at 242 for nine.
Key to the Stags was 21-year-old Will Young, who fought through to 99 before tragically falling to Jimmy Neesham just one short of his century.
Other small cameos from the likes of Carl Cachopa (29) and Kieran Noema-Barnett (31) took up precious time and made sure that the Volts would have to bat again. However, time had the final say with the match ending before the Volts had time to begin their pursuit.
Jimmy Jeesham and James McMillan each picked up three wickets for the home side, while Nathan McCullum had two scalps to his name.
The Plunket Shield takes a break now, with plenty of HRV twenty20 action over the Christmas and New Years period.
Day three: Devon Hotel Central Stags 255 (Kruger van Wyk 91, Jacob Duffy 3-50, Jesse Ryder 3-32) trail Otago Volts 30-2 (Jess Ryder 116, Neil Broom 72) by 116 runs.
Jesse Ryder has celebrated his BLACKCAPS ODI call up with yet another century in the Plunket Shield, this one giving the Otago Volts a handy first-innings lead over the Central Stags.
Having restricted the Stags to 255 first up and see day two washed out with rain, the Volts resumed at 20 for two. Ryder, as often happens, proceeded to steal the show with a knock on 119 from 164 balls.
The 29-year-old has been in dynamic form this season, with this being his third First Class ton of so far. While aggressive, he has shown more patience at the crease than last season and it is reflecting in his scores.
The rest of the Volts line-up provided plenty of support, with six other players making 28 or more.
At the conclusion of the day Mark Craig (29*) and Jacob Duffy (1*) were continuing to extend the southerners lead, reaching 371 for eight before stumps was called.
They’ll head into the final day with a lead of 116, but will be eyeing 450 to pick up another first-innings batting point.
Unfortunately we may have seen Ryder bat for the last time before the BLACKCAPS ODI on boxing day – circle that one on the calendar.
Day two: Devon Hotel Central Stags 255 (Kruger van Wyk 91, Jacob Duffy 3-50, Jesse Ryder 3-32) lead Otago Volts 30-2 by 225 runs.
Day two of the Plunket Shield match between the Otago Volts and Central Stags has been abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Weather permitting, the teams will return to action on day three with the bolts 30 for two chasing the Stags 255.
After the Otago Volts took three wickets when the Devon Hotel Stags were on 76, the visitors made it to 255 thanks to 91 from Kruger van Wyk. In reply, the Volts lost two wickets before stumps to trail by 225 to set up an intriguing day two.
The Central Stags were going along innocuously before they losing Kieren Noema-Barnett, Peter Trego and Will Young while the score was 76. That disastrous period brought van Wyk to the crease and he set about resurrecting the innings somewhat, supported by Roald Badenhorst (17 from 73) and Tarun Nethula (24 from 61) before being caught by James Neesham from Duffy.
It was Duffy, Ryder and James McMillian who created havoc, taking those three wickets with the score stuck on 76. Duffy and Ryder grabbed three scalps each, while McMillian made a huge contribution, giving up only 20 runs from his 13 overs at a run-rate of 1.54.
In reply to the Stags' 255, Aaron Redmond was caught van Wyk bowled Trego early for five, and Michael Bracewell was lbw to Badenhorst for four to end the day. Neil Broom and Ryder will resume in the morning for the Volts, with all eyes on the latter as he prepares to join the BLACKCAPS one-day squad.
