Canterbury's Hamish Bennett (R) took seven for 50. Photo / Getty Images
Ninety minutes was all Canterbury needed to assume the front foot in a tight State Championship cricket final against Wellington in Wellington yesterday.
On the back of career-best bowling figures from seam bowler Hamish Bennett, Canterbury eked out a 37-run lead with two days remaining of the five-day
final.
Overnight rain on a Basin Reserve outfield that refused to dry quickly meant play didn't start until 3.15pm.
Resuming at 165 for six, Wellington's remaining four wickets tumbled for just 23 runs in 11.3 overs, as the side reached 188, ceding a 27-run first innings advantage.
Burly right-armer Bennett claimed three of them to finish with seven for 50.
Luke Woodcock added 16 to finish unbeaten on 35 but received little assistance from the tail.
Dewayne Bowden fell for eight before New Zealand bowlers Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie and Ian O'Brien could manage just one run between them - all succumbing to Bennett.
Wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk took five catches, lifting his season dismissal tally to 29 - level at the top of the competition with Central Districts gloveman Bevan Griggs.
Canterbury crawled to 10 without loss in seven overs before opting to accept a bad light offer.
Conditions have meant just 153 overs have been bowled in the game but lax batting from both sides mean a result is still distinctly possible.
Canterbury need an outright win to deny Wellington the title, something Timaru workhorse Bennett believed was within their grasp.
"It feels pretty good at the moment but it's only half the job," he said.
"We need an outright. We knocked them over in the first innings but it doesn't mean bugger all."
The 21-year-old's previous best figures in 19 first class games was four for 43.
"Some days you get lots of wickets and some days you don't get any. It was just my day."
- NZPA
