Home advantage for Wellington in title clash

Central Districts take on hosts Wellington in the finals of the State Championship finals at the Basin Reserve on Monday. Wellington are fortunate to have in their ranks the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in the competition - Jesse Ryder and Mark Gillespie respectively. Ryder has an aggregate of 604 runs in eight matches at an enviable average of 50.33 while Gillespie has 43 wickets at 23.16, well ahead of the rest.

For Central Districts, Ewen Thompson, the allrounder, has enjoyed a good season: he is currently the third-highest wicket-taker, picking up 26 wickets with his left-arm medium pace, and also piling up 371 runs in his eight matches. Graham Barlow, coach of Central Districts, had words of praise for Thompson and is confident he can make the grade at the highest level.

"He's had a stunner of a season for us," Barlow told stuff.co.nz. "He stands up when CD is in dodgy situations and his heart is so big, I couldn't wish to have a better team man. I don't think he's far away [from making the New Zealand team] but one drawback is his ability in the field; by his own admission he needs some work in that area."

Vaughan Johnson, Wellington's coach, had similar thoughts about Gillespie being called up for national selection. "In time he could be," Johnson replied when asked whether Gillespie could become part of the national side. "He's been part of our pace attack for the past three or four years and shoulders the burden when the likes of James Franklin and Iain O'Brien have been away. He's gutsy and determined and I think the kid can bowl; he's aggressive but needs to be more consistent."

Wellington are by far the most superior side in the competition with six wins out of eight games, including four outright victories, and lead the points table with 36 points. Central Dictricts picked up 28 points from their eight games, with five wins and three defeats.