Cricket: Ryder shines in Wellington gloom

Jesse Ryder on his way to a boundary-laden 72 at the Basin Reserve yesterday. Picture / Fotopress

Jesse Ryder rode out of his own form storm yesterday only to end up in the middle of a gloomy Wellington dressing room.

The 20-year-old left-hander's boundary-laden 72 against Otago at the Basin Reserve was his first score of note since his winter signing from Central Districts.

But his obvious relief at finally finding form was reserved as Wellington conceded first-innings honours by 36 runs on the second day of the State Championship match.

Otago crept to 14 for one at stumps to extend their lead to 50 with half of the second-round four-day match to play.

Allrounder James Franklin did lift Wellington's spirits slightly when he had Otago's Pakistani opener Mohammad Wasim caught at short-leg for a duck just before stumps.

But Wellington will have to bowl exceptionally well on the flat track and bat with far more control if they are to deliver an outright win.

Ryder has struggled for runs since his shift to the capital, scoring 13 and a duck on debut for Wellington against Canterbury last week, and not many more at club level.

But he began repaying Wellington's faith yesterday with his second first-class half-century in a 121-ball, 143-minute stay that included 11 boundaries and a six.

He hit Otago leg-spinner Aaron Redmond - who gave up 25 off three overs - out of the attack with shots to all parts of the ground in an innings that was as timely as it was overdue after Wellington had slumped to 49 for four in pursuit of Otago's 327.

Ryder's performance impressed Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson.

"We've got huge faith in the kid and obviously he's shown some of his skill," Johnson said.

"It's his first decent score for us and hopefully there's more to come. We always knew he had it in him."

Ryder shared in a 130-run stand for the fifth wicket with Franklin, who added 79 to his first-innings bowling haul of four for 67.

Just as the pair looked set to guide Wellington to first-innings honours Ryder was adjudged leg-before by umpire Ian Shine, despite appearing to nick Greg Todd's delivery into his pads.

With Chris Nevin, who made 16, Franklin and Sam Fairley (23) guilty of lazy dismissals after getting starts, Wellington's tailenders were left with too much to do.

Mark Gillespie thumped two sixes in his 26 and Jeetan Patel made 21 not out, but James McMillan's figures of four for 36 handed Otago the initative.

"I'm disappointed with the top order but I'd rather focus on the closeness of the game," Johnson said. "We're still well in it. It's up to us to try and bowl them out [today]."

- NZPA