ANENDRA SINGH
WITH a semifinal berth beckoning on Sunday, Central Districts coach Graeme Barlow and his troops are returning to Palmerston North with quiet confidence - but don't mistake that for complacency.
"It's a must-win for us to get into the semifinals. We're a little better equipped this time but with their [Wellington's] Black Caps [Stephen Fleming] back they're a different side," Barlow told SportToday while heading back on the motorway with some of the Stags last night after their one-day State Shield match against Northern Districts in Palmerston North.
While CD thumped the Knights by five wickets, the former England cricketer was mindful of former Black Caps skipper Fleming, who proved again what a loss he would be to New Zealand international cricket as he steered the Firebirds to a similar result over Otago Volts at Basin Reserve.
Reflecting on their two consecutive losses [against Otago and Canterbury], Barlow said by bouncing back yesterday they showed character and, hopefully, suggested the Stags had got their hiccups out of the way.
Ewen Thompson's allround don't-mess display left ND languishing on the lowest rung of the ladder. The Knights now need bonus-points wins and results to go their way in the remaining two rounds if they are to make the playoffs featuring the top three teams.
Asked to pad up, ND posted 228-6 in their 50 overs with captain James Marshall racking up 65.
Thompson claimed three scalps for 51 runs off his 10 overs, including that of England test opener Andrew Strauss, as ND's top order departed cheaply at 60-3.
The Knights' Graeme Aldridge then snared the wickets of Geoff Barnett (4) and Mathew Sinclair (16) and Joseph Yovich dispatched Peter Ingram (12) to leave CD pondering at 33-3.
"We managed to chase down a total for a change," said Barlow, as a 91-run partnership between Tim Weston (70no) and Greg Hay (40) steadied the ship by the 32nd over.
Thompson completed the chase with an unbeaten 48 from 24 balls that included four sixes and two boundaries.
"They out-bowled us up front with the new ball but once we got to the middle order we got it right and challenged really well at the death," Barlow said.
Auckland are still clear leaders despite Canterbury inflicting a three-wicket loss on them in Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday.
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