Honours even on half-pace day

Wellington 93 for 2 (Bell 51*) trail Central Districts 312 (Englefield 69, Sinclair 67) by 219 runs
Scorecard

It was just about honours even at the end of a low-scoring second day of the State Championship final between Wellington and Central Districts at the Basin Reserve. At the close, Wellington had reached 93 for 2 in reply to Central Districts 312.

It was a day for the purists as Central Districts, who resumed on 184 for 2, barely managed two an over in the face of a far more spirited performance from Wellington's bowlers. Scott Rasmussen, who took the only two wickets to fall on the opening day, added two more to finish with 4 for 67, as Central Districts lost their last 8 wickets for 106 inside two sessions.

Roger Fouhy started the slide with the important wicket of Mathew Sinclair, caught behind by Stu Mills for 67, and although the inexpereinced middle order all got starts, none went on to play a big innings. Tim Weston was bowled by Dewayne Bowden for 14, and then Bowden ran out Ross Taylor for 25 with a direct hit.

Bevan Griggs and Ewen Thompson then looked to have stemmed the slide with a sixth-wicket stand of 48 before Rasmussen removed Griggs and Brendon Diamanti in the same over. Thompson remained unbeaten on 36 as Jesse Ryder polished off the tail.

Wellington lost Luke Woodcock to the first ball of the second over, and Michael Parlane for 17, but their innings was anchored by a two-and-a-half hour unbeaten 51 from Matthew Bell. With Ryder, he had added 46 for the third wicket by stumps.