Cricket: Opener Cleaver carries bat, Stags to victory

CD wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver on his way to a maiden, unbeaten century in New Plymouth yesterday in his newfound role as opener. Photo/John Velvin, ESPNZ

When coaches push players through the gaping window of opportunity it must feel like a leap of faith or a plunge into the deep end of a pool for the first time, akin to a swimmer.

In the case of Central Districts Stags cricketer Dane Cleaver it was an opportunity to show to coach Heinrich Malan that he treasured the opportunity to prove his worth as an opener and it was a nice way for the wicketkeeper to repay the trust the South African mentor had placed in him.

Cleaver not only carved up his maiden List A century but also carried his bat as an opening batsman to spearhead CD's runs chase to a three-wicket victory over the Otago Volts in New Plymouth yesterday.

"It's a sweet moment. I think any time you get a not out it's pretty special so it was good to carry my bat," said the 25-year-old Manawatu player who was 124 not out from as many balls, including 10 boundaries and four sixes, in his 187-minute occupation of the crease at a compact Pukekura Park during the Ford Trophy one-day match.

Cleaver was the mainstay as specialist batsmen George Worker, Jesse Ryder, captain William Young and Tom Bruce came and went for loose change, after Otago won the toss and amassed a total of 287-7 in their allotted 50 overs.

"I think it's good for me to get an opportunity at the top to express myself in having a longer look with the bat than down the order where you don't have as many opportunities to have a big knock so from that point of view I'm very glad I've had a good performance," he said.

Cleaver wasn't shy to go after the Otago bowlers when No 9 Adam Milne came to the crease before the latter posted a 34 not out.

"I tried to take smart options but, obviously, at Puke Park there are opportunities to take boundaries no matter what stage of the game so I tried to make the decisions and if there was a chance to hit it, I hit it otherwise I pushed for singles and tried to rotate the strike," he said, applauding fellow CD batsmen for taking the pressure off him.

"I didn't have to look for the boundaries that much so that was good."

The rot had stopped with Doug Bracewell at No 6. Pushed up the order to establish his credentials more as an allrounder the former Black Caps seamer scored 35 runs. Joshua Clarkson (32 runs) and Ben Wheeler (31) all added to the chase.

Cleaver said the compact nature of the park meant runs weren't going to be an issue with the Stags' batting depth.

"Dougie, Milney, Wheels and Clarky are all good batters so I knew we had it so I just needed to stay there to see us through."

Consequently CD bowlers' figures looked somewhat inflated as Bracewell and Wheeler claimed three scalps each while wicket-less opener Milne was the most costly at 7.7 runs an over.

Spinner Ajaz Patel had a wicket from 10 overs but none of them, bar Milne, went for more than 5.5 an over.

Cleaver said felt CD could have bowled better as the Volts got away with too many runs in the last 10 overs, turning an anaemic 250 total into a 287 one.

"But we bowled really well in the first 40 overs to get us into that position so we were really confident it wasn't going to be enough," he said, revealing Milne copped it hardest for bowling death overs.

He said CD had a lot of batting talent and didn't anticipate his opening role would transcend to the T20 format although he was happy to fulfil whatever role possible in the collective.

CD are on the top of the table as attention now turns to the start of the Burger King Super Smash T20 from this week. The one-dayers will resume in February.

The Wellington Firebirds handed the Auckland Aces their first white-ball defeat this summer at Eden Park in a DL Method result. Canterbury remain winless after ND Knights beat them by 43 runs in Christchurch.