Cricket: Central District's rookie shakes Wellington

Central Districts rookie fast bowler Richard Sherlock made a sensational first-class cricket debut against Wellington.

Sherlock arrived at the Basin Reserve yesterday with a big reputation and in one short and extremely quick five-over spell late in the day he dragged Central Districts back into the State Championship opener.

The slightly built Nelson bowler took wickets with his second, fourth and ninth balls to end the day with figures of three for 11 from five overs.

He ripped out Matthew Bell's off stump then had Michael Parlane gloving a brute of a delivery to Jamie How at third slip before Neal Parlane gifted him a third wicket by wafting his bat at a wide one.

Wellington slumped from 22 without loss to 24 for three and there was worse to come.

Grant Donaldson and James Franklin were also dismissed to leave Wellington on 61 for five at stumps in reply to Central's 139.

Central were in dire trouble at 92 for nine but they were saved some embarrassment by Ewen Thompson, who scored a career-best 55 not out batting at No 8 and shared in a last-wicket stand of 47 with Lance Hamilton.

Central coach Mark Greatbatch is trying to keep a lid on the Sherlock situation but he acknowledged it was a "dream start".

"He's only a kid and it's too early to start getting carried away about him but he certainly adds depth to our bowling group," Greatbatch said.

"He's very young and a slightly frail guy so we are going to be careful how we manage him. But there is no doubting he is pacey and has a future."

Experienced Wellington medium-fast bowler Andrew Penn also shone, particularly in his second spell in which he took three for 10 off five overs. Penn relished a two-paced pitch which offered generous seam movement while the ball was hard.

He twice sent the stumps flying and also picked up the key wicket of Craig Spearman on his way to taking four for 46.

Spearman led a charmed life on his way to 29 but it still spoke volumes for his class that he could last 90 minutes on a tricky surface in his first bat since September 21.

James Franklin, Iain O'Brien and Mark Gillespie rounded out a typically solid seam bowling effort by Wellington.

Caretaker coach Greg Hooper had mixed feelings at the end of the day.

"At 92 for nine things were looking pretty rosy but generally I thought the bowlers did a really good job for us.

"The batting at the end was a touch disappointing but the young lad [Sherlock] bowled a couple of good nuts."

Greatbatch was delighted at the fightback by his side, engineered by Thompson.

"It was a wonderful performance by him and very pleasing because he lost his way a bit last year with the ball."

- NZPA