A robust top order kept the Devon Hotel Central Stags on a Ford Trophy roll, downing the Wellington Firebirds by 55 runs (a bonus point win under the Duckworth Lewis Stern method) at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North after rain cut short a good contest.
On a roll of his own, opener George Worker (64 off 76) relished batting on his home track as he put on 112 for the first wicket with Ben Smith, who made his first half century of the Ford Trophy (57 off 73) since returning from injury. They each fell to the Firebirds' seasoned spin attack (Smith giving up a caught and bowled to Luke Woodcock and Worker snared by Jeetan Patel), but had already given their side another flying start, which would prove key given the weather developing.
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That set the scene, too, for Jesse Ryder to come in and blitz 83 off 74, all the top three chalking up half centuries on the road to an impressive 324/7 in the round five clash.
In reply, the Firebirds were 144/4 after 29.2 overs when rain forced the players off the park, with no resumption possible.
Openers Michael Pollard (43) and his captain Michael Papps had put on a solid 61 for the first wicket, but equally the Stags had kept them from tearing into the required run rate.
When Blair Tickner dismissed both, the Firebirds were under even more scoreboard pressure as grey skies threatened. Fellow seamer Seth Rance had meanwhile been at his miserable best, bowling five overs for a cost per over of little more than two runs.
That left the Firebirds needing some nine runs per over when the clouds burst and, well ahead on paper, the Stags took a bonus point win and with it, leapfrogged the Mondiale Auckland Aces into second spot on the table.
Only three rounds remain until the top three teams contest the Finals, with the top two spots the most sought after. The Stags are now just four points behind leaders Canterbury, with the Aces in third spot.
Round six of the Ford Trophy takes place this Wednesday 13 January. The SKYCITY Northern Knights host the Devon Hotel Central Stags at Cobham Oval, Whangarei. Canterbury host the Mondiale Auckland Aces at Hagley Oval, Christchurch and the Wellington Firebirds host the SBS Bank Otago Volts at the Basin Reserve, Wellington. All matches start at 11am and are livescored at blackcaps.co.nz
