CD Stags bowler Blair Tickner. PHOTO/Warren Buckland
It's seldom ever a bowler's world in domestic cricket but when the cookie crumbles their way the spittle shiners savour the moment.
Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags seamer Blair Tickner knows all about that after a milestone 4-65 during their Budget Rental Plunket Shield match against the Wellington Firebirds in Nelson yesterday.
The Ruahine Motors CHB right-arm medium/fast bowler claimed the scalps of openers Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock before snaring Craig Cachopa and Matthew Pollard in the visitors' first innings of 355-5 declared on the platform of Stephen Murdoch's 171.
Tickner previously had the best figures of 2-155 against the Auckland Aces at Nelson Park, Napier, last summer.
"It was not happening for me in Napier but that's cricket at the end of the day," said the 22-year-old after flirting with Otago Volts batsmen's bats in the drawn affair in the opening round.
The match against the Firebirds, on the final day today, also appears to be heading for a stalemate in the unlikely scenario of a colossal collapse in batting from either side as CD lead by 201 runs in their second dig on the foundation of a superb maiden double century from opening batsman George Worker.
Tickner said on day one Saxton Oval gave the Firebirds some purchase but by yesterday the wicket had flattened out.
"The ball's been going out of my hand really well, not just here but in Napier as well," he said, relishing the opportunity in his first full season for CD.
Worker and Andrew Mathieson's record 10th-wicket partnership against all teams of 134 was one more than what Gary Bartlett and Ian Colquhoun established against Auckland in the summer of 1959-60 with the former unbeaten on 99.
The CD leftie, in amassing 210 runs, including 26 boundaries and half a dozen sixes in a gritty 341-minute stint at the crease, showed why the Black Caps gave him a taste of international cricket during their tour of Zimbabwe over winter.
Mathieson, who last summer forged a 55-run stand with Ben Wheeler at Nelson Park, Napier, weathered 50 deliveries for an unbeaten 12 to ensure Worker got his double and showed he isn't a rabbit.
"It was great that Matho came out and hung in there but we didn't expect to be out there that long," Worker said.
Happy to play bat/pad on personal milestones previously, the double century maker said he woke up on Saturday morning not expecting to carve up a century, let alone a double after sitting on 86 not out overnight on day one.
" I got a few in the middle and the luck just went my way so it was great to reach a personal milestone," said the 23-year-old from Manawatu who carved up his fourth first-class ton.
With opener Ben Smith, who made a double century against the Volts in the opening round in Napier, resuming on 57 with skipper Kruger van Wyk on 54, CD are hoping that partnership will flourish and frustrate the visitors.
"They'll have the new ball available in about 10 overs so we don't want to be looking too far and just getting through the session without thinking too much about the result."
Worker, who went out cheaply to veteran ex-Black Cap spinner Jeetan Patel in the second dig, said the wicket wasn't breaking or turning square so it was still great to bat on.
The Firebirds, trailing by 32 runs, declared at 353-5 and had the Heinrich Malan-coached CD in trouble with four wickets down before Smith and Van Wyk steered the ship.
"I'd certainly not say yes at this stage [to a draw] but if our foot was in Wellington's shoe then we'd certainly be trying to bowl us all out," Worker deduced.