ROUND FIVE | DAY TWO
GET CARTER!
Northern Districts captain Joe Carter has become the first player since Jesse Ryder at Saxton Oval in November 2017 to score a century in each innings of a Plunket Shield match. Carter achieved the rare feat at Eden Park Outer Oval against the Auckland Aces this afternoon. Inching through the 90s for a second time, Carter lost partners when he was 96* and 97* as pace ace Lockie Ferguson and spinner Louie Delport fought in tandem to claim his wicket. Carter had scored a career-best 169 in the first innings before falling to Delport, and eventually reached his fourth first-class century in the final session of the penultimate day off 176 balls, in 218 mins (12 x 4, 1 x 6). Aces keeper Ben Horne had pouched his 100th first-class dismissal when he caught Katene Clarke off Ferguson while Carter was on 96*, then keeper-batsman Peter Bocock followed Clarke back in after he was trapped by Delport for just a single. Delport finally stopped Carter on 120, 10 overs down the track - by which time ND's overall lead had stretched to 349 with three wickets still remaining. Delport quickly wrapped up the innings and the Auckland Aces will begin their chase tomorrow needing 371 for a win.
Bonus points (completed): Auckland Aces 6, Northern Districts 6
The victory sees the Firebirds reclaim the championship lead from the Stags, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway having walked it home for the loss of only one wicket - Stags allrounder Willem Ludick adding to his personal stats as the season's top wicket-taker with four from the match. The Firebirds now hold a 13-point advantage over the desposed leaders at the top of the table with 60 points remaining on the table this season. The two teams will meet again in Napier in the penultimate round, meanwhile the Stags head to Dunedin and the Firebirds to Auckland's Colin Maiden Park for round six next week.
Points this round: Wellington Firebirds 18, Central Stags 4
OTAGO VOLTS ON THE BOARD
Points this round: Otago Volts 18, Canterbury 4
