Cricket: It's Ticks in hattrick time as CD make move

CD first-change bowler Blair Tickner celebrates taking a hattrick of wickets against the Wellington Firebirds at Saxton Oval, Nelson, yesterday. Photo/Photosport

The Black Caps were gone and so were some of the elite players on the fringes of national selection but that didn't mean domestic cricket was going to lose its effervescence yesterday.

The Central Districts Stags were chirpy in the bus ride to their hotel after they skittled the Wellington Firebirds for 171 runs before eking out 114-5 at stumps on day one of the marquee four-day Plunket Shield match in Nelson.

But CD first-change seamer Blair Tickner was circumspect in his interview with Hawke's Bay Today, even modestly opting not to mention he had claimed his maiden hattrick in first-class cricket.

"It's my second hattrick. Had one last year in T20 against Auckland. Had a bit of luck. Cheers," he said in his text message last night.

But the 24-year-old Ruahine Motors Central Districts Hawke's Bay cricketer was instrumental in spearheading the bowling attack yesterday against the shield leaders to finish with 4-45, including the scalps of hattrick victims - 7-126 (Jeetan Patel, 48.3), 8-126 (Ollie Newton, 48.4), 9-126 (Travis Muller, 48.5).

"It was a pretty good day. I'm pretty happy," he said of his sizzling stint.

But Tickner's tepid demeanour was understandable because when wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver (34 not out) and Doug Bracewell (18no) resume this morning it'll be imperative for the remaining CD batsmen to occupy the crease for the first session on a Saxton Oval strip that is offering seamers and swingers some purchase.

"It was seaming a little bit in the morning and then gave swing later in the day," Tickner said, revealing former Black Caps seamers Bracewell and Ben Wheeler removed the Firebirds' openers Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock cheaply to begin harvesting.

The wicket yielded five ducks in the day - three from the Firebirds and two from the CD Stags - and five batsmen across the two teams failed to make it into double figures in the run scoring department.

"It was definitely a good toss to win. It didn't swing too much."

Wellington No 5 batsman Fraser Colson was the lone battler, scoring 88 runs, including 14 boundaries and three sixes.

"He was just having a hit at the end of the tail so he was on 50 before," he said of Colson who chanced his arm, knowing he was rapidly running out of partners.

Bracewell claimed his 150th wicket for CD.

"He is one of us and deserves everything that comes his way so it's good to have him back in the team," Tickner said of Bracewell, who is recovering from knee surgery.

First-change seamer Navin Patel took 2-21 from nine overs to be the most frugal bowler while spinner Ajaz Patel only bowled two overs and should come into play if the block becomes friable in the next two days.

Stags rookie batsman Brad Schmulian was the top scorer on 40 runs but became Iain McPeake's 50th first-class scalp after the top five came and went cheaply.

Tickner said Wellington rookie new-ball bowler Newton had pulled up with a hamstring injury late in the day so it would be interesting to see if the hosts' bowling attack would be dented further after Logan van Beek was called into NZ A.

The Stags are without coach Heinrich Malan whose wife Jana is expecting their third child "any day" in Napier.

On this day last year, Malan made a smilar dash from Nelson Park after she gave birth to their boy, Janrich. The South African couple's first child is 4-year-old daughter Mila.

CD A coach Aldin Smith, the former Nelson senior men's coach, is at the helm with the help of former international and bowling coach Jacob Oram, of Manawatu, as well as CD general manager Lance Hamilton, of Napier.

The Jamie Watkins-coached CD Hinds women's team lost by eight wickets to Wellington Blaze in their opening round T20 match at Donnelly Park, Levin, yesterday.