Cricket: Stags face uphill task to save encounter

Heinrich Malan.

Throwing in the towel is never an option but the Central Districts Stags know too well it's time for a dose of reality.

For the Devon Hotel Stags 434 runs isn't that daunting to chase down on the final day of their four-day Budget Rental Plunket Shield match against Sky City Northern Districts Knights in Hamilton today.

But the loss of three wickets yesterday in their second innings won't do captain William Young and his troops any favours at Seddon Park as ND move closer to maintaining their fourth place on the table above CD but with a healthy margin after the sides started their game level on points. The visitors are sitting a rung below on an inferior net run rate.

Stags coach Heinrich Malan said it would be a different challenge batting to save the match and the immediate goal was to occupy the crease for three-and-a-bit sessions.

"In this game and the previous game against Auckland we've had a few 30s, 50s and 70s with batsmen getting in but not getting on," said Malan as yesterday began with ND allrounder Anton Devcich taking a career-best 4-43 to mop up the Stags' first-innings tail.

The hosts then pumped up the volume in their second dig to declare at 7-332 to set CD a target of 498.

Malan said it was time for the Youngs, Bruces, Cleavers and Bracewells to show their mettle with the bat so they could kick on.

His young players will no doubt learn from the experience.

Damian Morrow made his first-class umpiring debut after incumbent Wayne Knights got ill.

The Stags were 3-64 at stumps with No 4 Young (7 not out) and No 5 Tom Bruce (3 not out) to resume when play starts at 10.30am today.