Cricket: 'Diseased wicket' demands respect from Central Districts Stags batsmen in Napier

CD opener George Worker loses his offstump to Canterbury bowler Kyle Jamieson at McLean Park, Napier, yesterday. Photo/Duncan Brown

Even if you weren't in the stands or at the embankment, a cursory glance at the New Zealand Cricket website scoreboard would have given you a fair idea of what was unfolding at McLean Park, Napier, yesterday.

It must have felt like watching the outfield drying for the delayed midday start to day one of the round nine Plunket Shield match between the Central Districts Stags and the Canterbury Kings.

But that, people, is the mantra of red-ball cricket - it's not the balls you strike but the ones you watch go past your off-stump that will determine how long batsmen will occupy the crease.

Whether it was Black Caps opener George Worker, who eventually lost his off-stump to Kyle Jamieson for six runs from 38 balls, or the others who followed him with military precision that epitomised that edict after CD captain William Young won the toss and elected to bat.

Regular opener Ben Smith, who showed his mettle at last in the format this summer to eke out 50 runs from 148 deliveries, including four boundaries and a lusty six, had occupied the batting crease for 3h 35m.

But just as Smith had done at first drop, opener Greg Hay would have rued not going on to turn their half centuries into tons after the pair fell prey to left-arm orthodox spinner Theo van Woerkom.

The 24-year-old enticed Hay to ominously sweep thin air for 70 runs before Smith lashed out wildly to catch a thickish edge to gully to snuff another promising partnership blossoming with Young.

Hay, called into the New Zealand A representative side a fortnight ago on the heels of his purple patch, can't be too far from pressing for a start as test opener, even at the age of 33.

But, all in all, CD coach Heinrich Malan was pleased with his troops as Young (63 not out) and Tom Bruce (37 not out) soldiered on to ensure the Stags will resume at 236-3 in 82 overs this morning provided there isn't another delay from a soggy outfield.

Umpire Billy Bowden leaves his post as Canterbury huddle after George Worker's wicket at McLean Park, Napier, yesterday. Photo/Duncan Brown

Malan said the intention was to follow the blueprint of batting out four sessions but acknowledged Canterbury had bowled well in stages.

"We adapted accordingly to pick up the tempo at the back end of the day to try to get our run rate up ... to set ourselves up nicely for a another good hit [this] morning."

Converting 50s into centuries was something they had discussed even after the Wellington Firebirds draw so it was no different here.

"It'll be good to see a couple of guys who are currently in the haul or others coming in down the order getting stuck into it to get a big score for us," he said, although he was reluctant to offer a ball-park figure on what a decent total would be.

Malan said the wicket was "a pretty ugly looking one" with some sort of fungal disease creeping in and "uneven growth of grass" which might have contributed to its two-pace nature.

"Hopefully it'll get a little quicker as the game goes on," he said, emphasising obtaining bonus points in reaching targets was paramount.

While Hay and Smith might have shown some impatience, they were also trying to push the tempo of the game as well as put Van Woerkom under pressure.

It was pleasing, Malan said, to see Smith score a half ton considering he had been given out a couple of times "in unfortunate circumstances" this summer.

"He's obviously been around the block for us and is a quality top-order batter so it's always a matter of time before that class comes back out there. So it's pleasing to see him spend some time out there and, hopefully, he can kick on in this last three innings for us."

It hadn't escaped CD's attention that the Firebirds are under the kosh against the Northern Districts Knights at the Basin Reserve but Malan stressed that came under the "uncontrollables".

ND leggie Ish Sodhi picked up his second seven-wicket haul (career-best 7-30) on the trot to help skittle Wellington for 137 as the Knights resume at 158-4 today.

Batting first, Malan said, was part of the plan to bring in left-arm orthodox spinner Ajaz Patel on the last two days when the pitch might offer some turn.