Cricket: It's CD track before self in typical Taylor style

STAGS DO: For Ross Taylor loyalty goes back to CD from the time he was 12 so he always enjoys returning to the fold to do what he can for the collective. PHOTO/FILE

Instincts and nerves took over Ross Taylor on the field after he stamped his class in domestic tribal colours during the round-eight twenty20 victory for Central Districts Stags in New Plymouth yesterday.

"I didn't have much time to think about it but as long as you catch them I suppose you're fine," Taylor said at Pukekura Ppark yesterday after responding to a post-match question on how he felt under high balls not long after recovering from eye surgery a month ago.

The 32-year-old was dumped this week from the ANZ T20 International Series against Bangladesh starting in Napier on Tuesday on "his performance" and not because he was recuperating from a condition of surfer's eye, which had reached a painful threshold during the Pakistan tour here a few weeks ago.

His only twenty20 statistics, leading into this summer, was with Sussex in county cricket in England and they contradicted any assertions that he was lacking form in the format.

But in true Taylor fashion, the world-class batsmen, who signed off with a century against Pakistan on eye drops before going under a surgeon's knife a month ago, opted to channel his energy into fulfilling his domestic obligations in the Heinrich Malan and Ben Smith-coached Stags side in their Super Smash T20 campaign.

"Obviously we haven't won a twenty20 title for sometime now so it'll be nice for CD to win one since then," he said after posting an unbeaten 82 runs from 41 balls, including four boundaries and eight sixes to provide a platform for the 64-run victory over the Auckland Aces.

No stranger to rising from the ashes during times of adversity, the versatile batsman had tormented the Aces in the domestic T20 final in 2009-10 with former skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett and, it seems, he has etched the epitaph of the Aucklanders again with yesterday's knock.

Taylor said Pukekura Park was a globally favourite venue for him and the Canterbury Kings were still in the hunt in third place despite a six-wicket loss to second-placed ND Knights last night at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui, so he expected CD's clash against the Southerners to be a humdinger tomorrow at the same venue from 4pm.

"Hopefully the weather will play its part like it did today," he said, looking forward to another good turnout.

He saluted rookie T20 seamer Blair Tickner for his five-wicket bag as well as wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver for forging an imposing total partnership with him.

"It wasn't an easy time to come in to bat so I thought the way he got 40 very quick runs took the momentum away from the Auckland innings," he said of the Manawatu gloveman who is a Black Cap in the making in his own right to replace the ageing incumbents.

T20 Black Caps-bound Tom Bruce missed out at No 5 when he was stumped for 12 runs but Taylor said the talented Taranaki batsman will have another chance tomorrow at his home ground before making his debut against Bangladesh at McLean Park.

The Aces slip to fourth place, six points behind leaders CD on 22 points.

ND Knights are second on 18 points and the Kings are on equal 16 points with Auckland but are third on a marginally superior net run rate.

The Aucklanders face last-placed Otago Volts in Dunedin on New Year's Day before rolling the carpet out for CD at Eden Park on Tuesday.

The Knights host fifth-placed Wellington Firebirds, on 12 points, today in Hamilton before facing the Kings at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on Monday.

It's one of the tightest T20 finishes in the domestic arena.