Cricket: Central Districts Stags pick up where they left off with slaying of Auckland Aces

CD Stags batsmen Joshua Clarkson (left) and captain William Young walk off Colin Maiden Oval, Auckland, after putting the Auckland Aces to the sword on Saturday. Photo/Photosport

They lost Black Caps run machine Ross Taylor but that didn't stop the Central Districts Stags from putting the Auckland Aces to the sword at the weekend to become competition leaders.

Captain Will Young spearheaded CD to a 123-run victory with a run-a-ball century (100 runs off 101 balls) in his 159-minute occupation of the crease, including six boundaries, as the Stags picked up where they left off in the one-day Ford Trophy campaign before Christmas.

No4 Young won the toss and elected to bat as No6 Josh Clarkson gate-crashed the party with 103 runs from 95 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes over 138 minutes, to post a robust 299-5 in 50 overs at Colin Maiden Park.

Medium pacer Sean Solia was the pick of Auckland bowlers with 4-46 from eight overs.

In reply, the hosts were skittled for 146 runs with 57 balls to spare.

Unwanted Black Caps wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips was the highest Aces scorer on 44 runs before spinner Ajaz Patel bowled him to finish with the figures of 2-45 from 10 overs.

Black Caps speed merchant Adam Milne, coming off an injury layoff, matched Patel with 2-20 from six overs while seamer Blair Tickner emulated the pair's feat (2-23 from 8 overs) to be the most frugal (2.88 runs an over).

However, Young wasn't shy to throw the ball around as he used seven bowlers to create havoc.

Black Caps T20 new-ball seamer Seth Rance claimed 1-26 and so did Bevan Small (1-21).

Clarkson and New Zealand international George Worker also got one each albeit on the expensive side with 9.33 and 11 runs an over, respectively.

CD host the Canterbury Kings at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, on Wednesday.