Cricket: Stags vow brave stand

CD Stags batsman David Meiring plays a classic drive at Cobham Oval, Whangarei, on Saturday.

It seems the endless days of grinding one's way to mind-numbing stalemates in first-class matches are well and truly gone in domestic cricket.

"It's the time of the season when you want to be a little brave," Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags captain Kruger van Wyk said last night during their four-day Plunket Shield match against the Northern Districts Knights in Whangarei.

The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags need 325 runs to clinch winning points when Dave Meiring (12) and Grey Hay (10) resume batting at Cobham Oval today.

The visitors skittled ND for 374 runs in the first innings on Saturday before posting 300-6 declared on the foundation of a superb 132 runs, including 17 boundaries and a six from No4 William Young after the top order wobbled.

New kid on the block Tom Bruce put on a record fourth-wicket partnership of 164 with Young for CD v ND to eclipse the previous best of 161 that Black Caps pair Llorne Howell and Mark Greatbatch established in 1995-96.

It was Young's highest score (previous best 121) while fellow Taranaki batsman Bruce's 85 suggests the youngster is not just the find of this summer but will create more headlines in seasons to come.

Not to be outdone, ND skipper BJ Watling, playing his 100th first-class game, declared at 273-8.

Said Van Wyk: "We don't want it to come April and not giving ourselves a chance to win matches.

"I'd much rather be sitting here tomorrow night knowing I've given us a chance to win rather than staring a draw in the face."

The wicketkeeper said it was imperative the youngsters in the CD team become accustomed to nurturing a steely fortitude in eking out results in four-dayers.

"They won't learn anything if we play out a draw.

"It means we should be prepared to lose a game to win so they'll be learning how to take risks by playing aggressively."

Van Wyk saluted Young's adroitness and Bruce's patience as well as seasoned Greg Hay's graft and fighting skills.

Today won't be easy but he said if the Stags make them toil then lethargy would creep in and make it easier for them to score runs.