Cricket: Taylor sets Central for gripping last day

Ross Taylor who has set CD on the way to an upset victory. Jeff Brass / Getty Images

Central Districts' state championship title hopes sat lightly on Ross Taylor's shoulders as he blazed the team within reach of an upset victory at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

New Zealand's batting find of the season notched his second first-class century to rescue Central from one for two in their second innings to set Wellington a tricky 234 for victory.

At stumps on day four, Wellington were teetering at 37 for three, needing another 197 on the fifth and final day at the Basin Reserve today.

Top qualifiers Wellington, who only need a draw to take the title, still hold a slight upper hand with rain and gale-force winds forecast.

A dull, defence-orientated final sparked into life yesterday thanks to Taylor's 106 off 107 balls and some late heat from Central's pace attack, led by veteran left-armer Lance Hamilton, who claimed two late scalps.

Central claimed a first-innings lead of 12 as international paceman Mike Mason polished off the Wellington innings at 300 with figures of four for 68 off 33 impressive overs.

Wellington's odds then shortened to microscopic when Geoff Barnett and Mathew Sinclair were both removed without scoring.

Barnett was trapped in front by a Roger Fouhy inswinger, then Sinclair, in possibly his last innings for Central as he eyes a contract with Eastern Province in South Africa, was bowled when Scott Rasmussen seamed a delivery through the gate.

Taylor played the only way he knows, reaching 50 off 64 balls with a classic cover-driven boundary off Jesse Ryder, who had dropped a chance at gully with Taylor on one.

Central slumped to 84 for five before Ewen Thompson also played a key role, cracking an unbeaten 67 off 64 balls as he and Taylor added 92 for the sixth wicket.

Taylor reached his first first-class century of the season with 13 fours before he was caught by Grant Elliott off DeWayne Bowden.

Thompson hit seven fours and three sixes and was still blazing away as Central finally succumbed for 221 in the 53rd over.

Hamilton, set to announce his retirement after 10 seasons of first-class cricket, offered Central a reminder of how much he would be missed.

He trapped Wellington captain Matthew Bell, the first innings topscorer with 93, leg before wicket for nine, then removed fellow opener Luke Woodcock, caught behind for six.

With Central going for all-out attack, Mason then snared the wicket of Ryder, caught by Sinclair for four.

- NZPA