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Pool of money for professional and recreational game follows initial bail-out of £61 million

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2020The ECB has committed a further £35.7million to support professional and recreational cricket during the Covid-19 pandemic.The support package, agreed by the ECB board in a bid to mitigate the financial issues caused by the suspension of the 2020 season, follows on from the initial sum of £61 million that was announced back in March.The bulk of the figure, £30.22million, will be released to the first-class counties and MCC on August 1, and will comprise the early release of six months of core payments from the County Partnership, as well as the remainder of the annual payments of £1.3million that were promised to the counties with the establishment of the Hundred.The remainder of the sum, £5.5 million, will be made available to the county boards on August 1, again from core payments from the County Partnership distributions.In addition, recreational clubs will continue to have access to an interest-free pot of £20million through the ECB’s ‘Return to Cricket” scheme, and will also be given a 12-month holiday on loan repayments.”It is the ECB’s responsibility to protect the whole game’s future during the financial uncertainty we face as a sport,” said Tom Harrison, the chief executive.”We continue to work closely with all levels of the game to understand the challenges that are being presented and to map out a plan for the future. While I am pleased the ECB Board has been able to approve this financial support package for the remainder of this year we are still only at the beginning of addressing the impact of this crisis on cricket.”We still should not underestimate the significant financial burden that is ahead of us across all levels of the game. We must seek to reduce the cost base across the game, as we face up to the sobering reality of what lies ahead of us.”The response we have seen within the game has been reassuring and I know how much a return to the field of play would mean to clubs and players of all ages across England and Wales.”It remains our priority to get cricket started again this summer, from the grassroots to the elite level, and we will continue to work with Government to try and do that in a way that keeps people safe but that limits the ongoing impact of this crisis on our game.”

India are looking for a record fifth Under-19 World Cup title, while Bangladesh have never come this far before

The Preview by Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom08-Feb-2020

Big picture

This is about as big as it gets for the Under-19 cricketers from Bangladesh and India. For India, it’s an opportunity to defend their title and claim a record fifth World Cup crown [Australia are next with three]. For Bangladesh, it’s a chance to win their first World Cup, any World Cup.Both sides are unbeaten so far and there’s not much to separate them. If India have Kartik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra with the searing pace upfront, Bangladesh have the rapid Tanzim Hasan Sakib and the accurate Shoriful Islam to counter that. For a Ravi Bishnoi, there’s a Rakibul Hasan, for a Yashasvi Jaiswal there’s a Tanzid Hasan. They are evenly matched all right.ALSO READ: Where the Under-19 World Cup final will be won and lostThe last time the two sides played each other at an Under-19 World Cup was in 2018, in the quarter-final, and India finished victorious. But they have faced off seven times since then in other competitions, two of those games abandoned because of the weather. India do hold a 4-1 edge in the completed games, but they have been close encounters. At the 2018 Asia Cup semi-final, India sneaked through with a two-run win, while in the 2019 Asia Cup final, India won by five runs. The last time Bangladesh beat India – in England last July – they won by two wickets. If nerves don’t get in the way of skills, expect another nail-biter in the final here.Heavy rain is expected at some point on both Sunday, and Monday’s reserve day. Tournament rules say that if both days are washed out, the World Cup will be shared. How the two sides navigate their way while taking the conditions into consideration will be an interesting subplot. Fans of both countries will throng the JB Marks Oval to support their team, emotions will run high, and it’s up to the youngsters to make the occasion a memorable one, become heroes, if they can.

Form guide

India WWWWW Bangladesh WWWWW

In the spotlight

Kartik Tyagi, the India bowler who consistently bowls at 135 kph, can be the difference. Bangladesh’s top order has been consistent, barring the rain-hit game against Pakistan, and if India are to win, his ten overs – both with the new ball and the older one – will hold massive importance. His 11 wickets in the tournament have come at an economy rate of less than 3.50 and he has taken a wicket every 18.7 deliveries.Mahmudul Hasan Joy sweeps one fine•ICC via Getty

Bangladesh’s No. 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy has paid his team back for backing him through the tournament. Despite a poor start to the World Cup, he has grown in confidence as it has progressed, and it was on show during the semi-final, when he struck a match-winning 100 against New Zealand. He’s Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer here and if he can produce an innings that matches his tournament average of 58.66, Bangladesh will be well placed to win their first World Cup.

Team news

Both sides are likely to stay unchanged for the final. There are no injury concerns for either team.India (possible): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Divyaansh Saxena, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 5 Priyam Garg (capt), 6 Siddhesh Veer, 7 Atharva Ankolekar, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Sushant Mishra, 10 Kartik Tyagi, 11 Aakash SinghBangladesh (possible): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shahadat Hossain, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Akbar Ali (capt, wk), 8 Rakibul Hasan, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11 Hasan Murad

Pitch and conditions

They will be playing on the same surface as the first semi-final, when India beat Pakistan. There were no demons in the surface; although Pakistan were all out for a sub-200 total, India chased it down with ten wickets in hand. Thunderstorms are expected on Sunday (and Monday) afternoon, although the morning will offer a window of uninterrupted play.

Stats and trivia

• With 312 runs in five games, Jaiswal is almost certain to finish the tournament as the highest run-scorer. Mahmudul, the second-highest run-scorer featuring in the game, is 124 behind him.
• The average first-innings score at the ground this World Cup has been 201.5.
• India have bowled their opponents out in every World Cup game.
• The team batting second has won four of the last five Under-19 World Cup finals.

Zimbabwe won’t be taking the T20s too lightly, after their four defeats so far and will want to show they can compete with Pakistan

The Preview by Firdose Moonda15-Sep-2011

Match facts

September 16, Harare Sports Club
Start time 1400 (1200GMT)Younis Khan wants to extend his good ODI form to the T20s•AFP

Big Picture

After two weeks of hard grind, the fun part of the tour has arrived, with two Twenty20 matches to end the series between Zimbabwe and Pakistan. The hosts won’t be taking things too lightly, after their four defeats (in the one-off Test and the three ODIs) so far and will want to show Pakistan that they can compete with and beat them. They will also be anxious to turn around a mini-run of poor form ahead of an important home-and-away series against New Zealand.Zimbabwe are not an experienced outfit in T20 cricket and last played an international match in October 2010 against South Africa. They have, however, revolutionised their domestic setup with a sizeable sponsorship for the T20 competition and a number of international players taking part. They have taken enormous pride in that particular tournament and will be keen to show that the efforts that went into that have not gone to waste.Pakistan have already wrapped up the majority of the tour but to go home without conceding a single defeat would be a significant achievement for them. Besides the clean sweep, they have another important thing to keep in mind – Waqar Younis has entered his last weekend as the national coach and will want to leave on a high.All the players that Pakistan brought in or re-introduced into their line-up, barring Shoaib Malik, have impressed and with the most expressive format of the game left to play, they will want to show their flair as the tour draws to a close.

Form guide (most recent first)

Zimbabwe LLLLL
Pakistan LWLLL

In the spotlight

The shortest format of the game relies on big hitters and Elton Chigumbura has been talked up as the Zimbabwean who can hit it the furthest. He unleashed some of his killer blows in the ODI series but was often left with too many to get off too few deliveries. Similar equations exist in T20 only to be defied and Chigumbura will have to be the man that defies them. Zimbabwe will have to box clever with him and consider giving him more time at the crease to show off his big shots.Aizaz Cheema has not put a foot wrong so far on this tour. He has been the master of variation, mixing up his slower balls with yorkers and bouncers and showing the less experienced lot the only way to succeed on unresponsive surfaces. With the change in format, he could be a key component of Pakistan’s success. Cheema has played 19 T20 matches domestically and has 27 wickets at an average of 18.40 and could prove a handful for Zimbabwe’s tentative batsmen.

Team news

Zimbabwe have added Mr 194, Charles Coventry, to their squad and the little known allrounder Cephas Zhuwao to their squad. Coventry will likely slot into the middle order, perhaps even ahead of the likes of Taylor or Taibu. Malcolm Waller should pay the price for a number of promising starts without pushing on. Senior paceman Chris Mpofu should be brought back in, with Ray Price operating as the solitary spinner.Zimbabwe: (probable) Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (capt), Charles Coventry, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Elton Chigumbura, Ray Price, Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, Chris MpofuFor Pakistan, Rameez Raja should be given a chance after sitting out of the lone Test match and all three one-dayers. He would replace Imran Farhat in the opening slot. Asad Shafiq was impressive in his first outing and will be competing with Shoaib Malik for a spot, if Umar Akmal is going to be brought back. Yasir Shah also earned praise and may be retained instead of Saeed Ajmal while Sohail Khan and Junaid Khan may be given turns in the third seamer role.Pakistan: (probable) Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat/Rameez Raja, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shoaib Malik/Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal (wk), Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Aizaz Cheema , Yasir Shah

Pitch and conditions

Brendan Taylor described the Harare pitch as “one of the best around,” and it is, for batsmen. Batsmen will again have the freedom of the surface as shot making should not be problematic. Taylor also expects “balls to be flying everywhere,” in the shortest form of the game, with a quick outfield and good carry expected. It will be tough work for the bowlers again but they are probably anticipating as much in a T20.

Stats and trivia

• Zimbabwe have only played 14 T20s and have won just three. All of their victories have come away from home.
• Pakistan’s lowest score in a T20 was when they were bowled out for 89 by England in September last year. None of their batsmen scored more than 20 in that match.

Quotes

“It’s a quick turnaround from the ODIs to the T20s so it’s a good chance for the guys to showcase their talent and their skills.”

“I am enjoying my cricket these days and I want to participate not only in batting, but in fielding and to be able to talk to the captain when we are under pressure and deliver my experience in all departments.”

Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s captain, has said his side has the ability to upset Australia at home in December

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2011Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s captain, has said his side has the ability to beat Australia in their own backyard in December. New Zealand are coming off a tour of Zimbabwe during which they narrowly won the one-off Test, and will play a two-Test series in Australia starting next month.”When we had a meeting before we went to Zimbabwe, Wrighty [New Zealand’s coach, John Wright] said that we want to take one game [Test] off Australia,” he told . “We know we have to play better than we did in Zimbabwe. But we definitely feel we can beat this Australian team.”It will be tough and we need to be going into day five [of the Tests in Australia] still in the match. We know they will come hard at us, we know they will try to attack us and play an aggressive style of game.”That the former Australia coach, John Buchanan, is now New Zealand’s director of cricket, is a plus, Taylor said. “He [Buchanan] will know their players better than anyone and he’ll know their psyche and the way they go into a game against a team like ourselves. It would be naive of us not to have a chat with him and I’m sure, with his new role, he will want to stamp his authority – a win over his old team will go a long way.”Taylor took over the captaincy from Daniel Vettori in June, and the tour to Zimbabwe was his first series in charge. The team, he said, is now working on becoming more aggressive. “We are trying to get an aggressive attitude as much as possible in our team, regardless of who we are playing against, and show as much fighting spirit and pride in playing for New Zealand as possible. It’s exciting to lead these guys and to see where we can get to in the next couple of years.”The squad for the tour of Australia is expected to be named on Wednesday. The first Test begins at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 1.

Victoria batsman one of three players with Australia domestic cricket experience in 15-member squad

Alex Malcolm13-Dec-2019Victoria batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk is one of three players with domestic experience to be named in Australia’s 15-member Under-19 World Cup squad.

Squad

Cooper Connolly, Oliver Davies, Sam Fanning, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Lachlan Hearne, Corey Kelly, Liam Marshall, Todd Murphy, Patrick Rowe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Bradley Simpson, Connor Sully, Matthew Willans

Fraser-McGurk, 17, made half-centuries on Sheffield Shield and List A debut for Victoria earlier this season, and has been named alongside fellow Victorian batsman Mackenzie Harvey, who played in the Melbourne Renegades’ BBL triumph last season, and allrounder Liam Scott, who made his Shield debut for South Australia against Western Australia recently.The squad also features New South Wales batsman Oliver Davies, who made headlines last summer after hitting six sixes in an over while scoring the first double-century in the history of Australia’s boys’ Under-19 championships.Australia’s squad will be coached by former Test opener Chris Rogers, with former Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris as his assistant.Australia face West Indies, Nigeria, and England in their pool at the World Cup in South Africa. Australia have not won the Under-19 World Cup since 2010, which was their third triumph after the inaugural edition in 1988 and 2002.

To watch Mitchell Johnson zip the ball through at pace on a bouncy Potchefstroom pitch, to see him curve the ball just enough to trouble the batsmen, it was impossible not to think back to his tour of South Africa in early 2009

Brydon Coverdale in Potchefstroom01-Nov-2011To watch Mitchell Johnson zip the ball through at pace on a bouncy Potchefstroom pitch, to see him curve the ball just enough to trouble the batsmen, it was impossible not to think back to his tour of South Africa in early 2009. On that trip, Johnson was at times unplayable, his combination of aggression, speed and swing a menace to South Africa’s strong batting line-up.At the time, it seemed Johnson could have been anything. In the two and a half years since, he has been everything: hero, villain, leader, follower, superstar, nobody. Back then he was the spearhead, the new-ball star who had just demolished Graeme Smith’s men – and his hand – in Australia.A new-look Australian attack was being built around him, but within two years he was being fitted in around the rest of the bowling group. On the last day before his thirtieth birthday, Johnson showed that he can still deliver some of those same traits that made him a champion in 2009, with his effort against South Africa A.There was a hint of his aggression, when he banged in a bouncer that JP Duminy couldn’t escape, his bat fending the ball down accidentally. There were moments of swing, perhaps most impressively an inswinging yorker that ended the innings by bowling the No.11 Marchant de Lange. And there was speed that troubled both batsmen and the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who at least once failed to get his hands in position in time to collect Johnson’s delivery.It wasn’t the Johnson of 2009, but it was a recognisable imitation. Admittedly, the conditions could hardly have been more helpful. Peter Siddle was equally difficult for the South Africans to handle, and Vernon Philander troubled Australia’s batsmen later in the day. Australia went in without Pat Cummins and Ryan Harris, both of whom would have thrived on the surface.”We could have played all five [fast bowlers],” Johnson said at the end of day on which he took 4 for 38. “It looked like a bit of a WACA wicket … You could see how much bounce there was and how much carry, there were a few balls that really took off today. Fast bowlers always love seeing that.”There was a little bit of up and down [bounce]. It seemed like there was a spot from the top end that if you hit it back of a length it just went through a little bit low and if you bowled a touch fuller it was jumping. Especially with the newer ball it was doing that more so, and their boys did the same sort of thing, getting that bit of extra bounce as well.”Not that Johnson bowled with a very new ball. He hasn’t had that job for some time: only three times in the past 18 months has he opened the bowling for his country in a Test. At first change he has been able to settle in to his rhythm without the pressure of being expected to curve the new ball like a hoop. And despite his love of South African conditions, it might not be something that changes on this tour.”I’m happy to bowl wherever I’m needed for the team,” he said. “I’d love to bowl with the new ball. If I get the opportunity to in the second innings I’ll definitely put my hand up for it. I’ve bowled first change for a while now, especially in one-day cricket it’s probably been my strong point. We’ll wait and see.”It didn’t really swing as much with the new ball for myself. I got a couple to swing, but I found that it swung a little bit later on when I came on for my second spell. Peter Siddle said the same thing, he said it was swinging a little bit more as well. It’s almost like English conditions, where you get the lacquer off the ball and get a nice shine on it, and it swings a bit more.”Johnson picked up two lbws in the top order, neither of which swung dramatically, and his delivery that bowled Robin Peterson was angled in to the left-hander. But Johnson is at his most dangerous when his variety surprises the batsmen, and that was the case on the first day in Potchefstroom.Come the Cape Town Test, the conditions may not suit him quite as well, with a slower Newlands pitch likely. But he will love bowling at the Wanderers in the second Test. He took eight wickets in a Test there two and a half years ago and was Man of the Match, then ultimately Player of the Series.He is not the same Mitchell Johnson that he was last time he visited South Africa, but he’s performing a reasonable impersonation. For now, after his ups and many downs since the 2009 Ashes, the Australians will take that.

Allrounder Chinelle Henry, who was ruled out of the second and third ODIs with a concussion, is also back

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2019Fast bowler Shakera Selman is back in West Indies’ squad for the five-match women’s T20I series against India, which begins on Saturday in St Lucia. Selman, according to a CWI release, sat out the ODI series as an injury precaution, “to ensure her full fitness and availability for the T20I series.Allrounder Chinelle Henry, who suffered a concussion during the first ODI in North Sound and was ruled out of the second and third ODIs, is also back in the squad. Hayley Matthews, who came into the squad for the second and third ODIs as a replacement for Henry, keeps her place for the T20Is.”Following the Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series, the majority of the squad has been retained,” Ann Browne-John, lead selector of the women’s and girls’ panel, said. “Chinelle Henry will hopefully be fit and ready to go again after being sidelined through concussion after the first ODI. Shakera Selman will bring her experience to this team to add more fire power to the bowling attack.”The team has always had good performances in T20 matches and this series is vital preparation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”West Indies T20I squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt), Anisa Mohammed, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Shakera Selman, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Stacey-Ann King, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond

The Sri Lankans gave themselves the perfect pre-Test tonic with an outstanding come-from-behind victory by 38 runs against England Lions. Despite following on 227 adrift they transformed the match and dismissed the Lions for 183 during the final session a

Andrew McGlashan at Derby22-May-2011
ScorecardEoin Morgan became Dilhara Fernando’s third wicket in six balls as Sri Lanka overcame England Lions•Getty Images

The Sri Lankans gave themselves the perfect pre-Test tonic with an outstanding come-from-behind victory by 38 runs against England Lions. Despite following on 227 adrift they transformed the match and dismissed the Lions for 183 during the final session at Derby. Dilhara Fernando took three wickets in six balls including Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, a pair who had contrasting emotions after England’s Test squad was named, while Nuwan Pradeep went through the rest with 4 for 29.It was a superb performance from the Sri Lankans who were a distant second-best for the first two days. But they then batted with conviction in the second innings to amass 448 and bowled with real desire. The effort was led by Fernando’s 11-over spell and backed up by Pradeep, who could well have bowled himself into the Test side, and he took the key scalp of James Hildreth who was the Lions’ last real hope.The second half of this match included a host of positives for the visitors, beginning with the 200-run opening partnership and then the performance of the fast bowlers who made the most of a howling gale from their back. Sri Lanka’s pace attack is still their weakest suit heading into Cardiff, but they will have taken huge confidence from this performance.Hunting down 222 in 73 overs, the Lions had moved to 58 for 1 when Fernando began to make inroads. Bowling with the wind – which was actually a gale – from his back he gave James Taylor a roughing up with some short bowling before trimming his off stump with an excellent delivery. In his next over he claimed Bopara, to complete a tough day for the Essex man, when another short delivery brushed his glove as he failed to get out of the line.Morgan, who received good news last night from national selector Geoff Miller, came and went in a flash. He pulled his first ball to midwicket but two deliveries later pushed forward at a good length delivery and edged to second slip where Mahela Jayawardene, who dropped two in the first innings, was back in safe-hands mode.During the afternoon session Dilshan largely used his spinners into the howling wind so that his quicks could benefit from the assistance. Hildreth and Samit Patel set about reviving the innings from 67 for 4 although Patel should have gone on 20 when he tried to hit down the ground with the wind and Thisara Perera, at long-off, made a mess of judging the catch. Patel then flashed a low catch to gully where the fielder was slow to move. Either side of his two lives he played some handsome strokes until being given lbw when height looked an issue to end a stand of 61.After tea the Lions suffered another swift slump. Firstly Jonny Bairstow poked a catch back to Pradeep who took it well in his follow through and then Ajmal Shahzad was lbw to the first ball of a new spell from Perera, a pace bowler given a rare burst into the wind. Hildreth had played calmly for his 38 but then flicked a catch straight to deep square-leg where it was well held by Dinesh Chandimal.It meant Thilan Samaraweera’s stubborn 74, which extended the lead beyond 200, proved crucial. The Sri Lankans had lasted another 14 overs on the final morning as Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach wrapped up the innings. Dernbach, who took 5 for 44 in the first innings, ended with career-best match figures of 9 for 138 but, as Sri Lanka showed the fight that has made them such a successful team, they ended up in a losing cause. England will need to be switched on come Thursday.

Steve O’Keefe is intent on pressing his case for Australian limited overs and Test match consideration during the tourists’ two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2011Australia’s most statistically accomplished spin bowler, Steve O’Keefe, is intent on pressing his case for limited overs and Test match consideration during the tourists’ two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka.In 14 first-class matches, O’Keefe has winkled out 52 wickets at 24.05, yet has been ignored by the national selectors for all but the briefest of formats, in which he took 3-29 on his debut against Pakistan last year.The selection of Nathan Lyon and Michael Beer has been considered by some to be a slight on O’Keefe, but he preferred to view it as a sign that in selection terms, anything was now possible.”Definitely. I think every time you play, it’s a bit of an audition, isn’t it?,” O’Keefe told in Colombo. “Sometimes, if you do well in any sort of form for Australia, it can translate in all sorts of forms so, any time you get to wear [Australian colours], you’re on show.”O’Keefe has watched Lyon bowl, and said the South Australian-based off spinner had all the attributes of a classical slow bowler.”He’s a beautiful bowler when you watch him go,” O’Keefe said. “He gets it up and over and one of the best natural spinners I’ve seen around in the country for a long time. He’s got a good head on his shoulders which I think will serve him in good stead if he gets his opportunity to play.”While O’Keefe’s time in Sri Lanka will be short, the time spent training ahead of Saturday’s first T20 match against the Sri Lankans will be enthusiastically undertaken by one of the more personable cricketers in Australia.”It’s changing times that you come away and you’re here for two weeks for these games that go for three hours but, in saying that, the intensity of training is quite tough,” O’Keefe said. “The training that we did today for fielding, it doesn’t get much tougher and I think you can definitely take your skills up a notch by working around these guys.”There’s a lot of benefits besides the two games. You get to surround yourself with the best players in the world and play up to their level. It’s a great forum to showcase your skills.”

A round-up of the ninth round of matches from the 2010-11 Plunket Shield

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2011Canterbury moved to the top spot on the points table from joint-third position after registering a 28-run win over hosts Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.In a match that featured several cameo performances with bat and ball, Canterbury made 334 after being asked to bat. Shanan Stewart anchored the innings with patient 90 as most of his team-mates got starts before being dismissed. Seamer Colin de Grandhomme and left-arm spinner Bruce Martin caused most of the damage, picking up seven wickets between them. Auckland’s reply followed a similar course, with several batsmen getting their eyes in but not making significant contributions – the top score was 71 by Tim McIntosh – as opening bowler Matthew Henry and legspinner Todd Astle picked up three wickets apiece. The innings folded on 277, allowing Canterbury a 57-run lead.At 3 for 35, Canterbury were in trouble in their second innings, as the two Martins, Chris and Bruce produced incisive spells. But three solid half-centuries from the middle order, including Stewart’s 65, steered them to 231 for 8. Set 289 for victory, Auckland’s batsmen came a cropper for the second time, barring Bradley Cachopa who scored 71, as they fell short of the target. Astle carved up the middle order with four scalps, taking his match haul to seven.The Northern Districts v Otago match at Seddon Park in Hamilton ended in a high-scoring draw. Asked to bat, Otago piled up 389 on the back of steady tons from Aaron Redmond and Derek de Boorder. Northern Districts were emphatic in their reply, making 559 for 9 declared at an impressive rate of 4.83 runs per over. Daniel Flynn powered the innings with a knock of 241 off 253 balls that included nine sixes. Otago then batted out the rest of the match, scoring 343 for 6, with Redmond producing another ton.In another batsmen-dominated encounter, Central Districts played out a draw against Wellington at the Basin Reserve. Choosing to bat, Central Districts built their innings around opener Peter Ingram who scored a steady 135, and declared their innings at 337 for 9. Hundreds from Stephen Murdoch and Neal Parlane helped Wellington take the first innings lead by a sizable margin, despite legspinner Tarun Nethula picking up a six-for. The run-fest continued as Ingram powered to his second ton of the match, an explosive 143 off 136 balls laced with 26 boundaries, Central Districts ending day four on 368 for 6.