After 17 overs Central were 115 for 2.

Earlier, Spearman and Ryder got their run chase for off to a fast start against the Wellington new ball pairing of Ashley Turner and James Franklin.

After six overs they were 35 without loss. Spearman was on 21 and Ryder was on 19.

Requiring a run rate of under four an over, Ryder and Spearman showed plenty of urgency as they took on the field in running several quick singles.

But it was in the 5th over when Ryder hit Turner for three delightful fours when their chase came alive. The first four was a front foot drive through point, while the others were both sweeetly timed on drives.

In the next over, bowled by Franklin, Spearman got into the act, hitting one four through the covers and one which he effortlessly pulled through square leg.

Turner (3 overs for 23) was instantly replaced by Matthew Walker while Andrew Penn replaced Franklin at the other end, but Spearman duly hit him for two huge sixes, one through square leg and the other through extra cover. For good measure, Spearman hit a four through cover off the last ball. The over went for 18.

After 9 overs, Central were 73 without loss. Spearman was on 29 and Ryder was on 27.

The run fest didn’t cease there though. 6 runs came from the 10th over, bowled by Mayu Pasupati, 9 came from the 11th over (Walker), including some belligerent hitting from Spearman and 6 off the 12th (Pasupati).

The 100 central hundred was posted in the 13th over.

Franklin replaced Pasupati in the 14th over when Ryder posted his 50 (off 45 balls) with a sublime cut over gully. Spearman scored his fifty in the 15th over (off 38 balls).

Wellington finally broke the partnership in the same over. Turner bowled Ryder for 51. Two balls later, Turner dismissed Peter Ingram for a duck. 110/2.

Only a late cameo off 34* by Mayu Pasupati gave Wellington’s any respectability, and considering they were 56/5 at one stage a target of 186 is not that bad for Wellington.

Earlier, Central Districts’ two off spinners, Glen Sulzberger and Campbell Furlong continued to stifle Wellington in the later stages of their innings.

After 38 overs, Wellington were 108 for 7 and in dire straits.

After opting to bat first, and having lost steady wickets from the outset, Wellington middle order batsmen Grant Donaldson and Matthew Walker fought an effective rear guard action, given the circumstances that the top order had put them in.

But all this good work was undone soon after the second drinks break.

Walker, after comfortably getting to 27 tried to force the pace and was LBW to Furlong, and with him went Wellington’s chances of posting any sort of a big score. Walker attempted to pull a regulation Furlong off spinner across the line and was plum. 105/6

In the next over, bowled by Sulzberger, Donaldson walked across a delivery and was easily stumped by keeper Bevan Griggs for 22. 108/7.

It was up to Mark Jefferson and Mayu Pasupati to drag Wellington out of the mire.

Central captain Craig Spearman pulled the two spinners off soon after and replaced them with Michael Mason and Lance Hamilton. Consequently, both Jefferson and Pasupati managed to get the scoring ticking along. Jefferson in particular played well with a couple of delightful drives, as good as there had been all day.

After 45 overs, Wellington were on 134/7. Jefferson was on 15 and Pasupati was on 10.

In the 46th over, Central broke through again. Going for a quick single, Jefferson found himself short of his ground and he was well run out by keeper Griggs. 134/8.

Andrew Penn came straight out and hit two sixes off Sulzberger. The first a slog over square leg, the second a delightful drive over long off. Rare boundaries to date.

Wellington’s 150 came up in the next over, the 47th.

Penn was bowled by Schwass in the 48th over for 15.

Mason was the best of the bowlers for central, finishing with figures of 3 for 22 off his 10 overs. He was ably supported by Hamilton (0 for 30 off 10), Schwass (2 for 32 off 10) and Furlong (2 for 31 off 9).

Assuming they bat with more intelligence than Wellington, there is no reason why Central can’t get up and win this one.

After 35 overs Wellington were 100 for 5. Grant Donaldson was on 19 and Matthew Walker was on 24. Wellington continued to struggle against a tight Central bowling attack, and some inept top order batting that had put them on the back foot right from the start of the game.

Central Districts were well and truly on top as earlier, Wellington’s middle order pairing of Richard Jones and Donaldson had fought hard to resurrect the innings and post a defendable total.

It was Jones who had looked the most assured, as he climbed into the slow medium bowling of New Zealand under 19 star Jesse Ryder, taking 9 off Ryder’s third over, which saw Wellington’s run rate climb above 2 for the first time. After 20 overs, Wellington were 41 for 4.

He then took 8 runs off Lance Hamilton’s next over to race to 40.

Glen Sulzberger replaced Ryder and instantly had success off his first ball. He bowled Jones around his legs. Jones played a poor shot, attempting to pull a low delivery square, and was duly bowled.

Wellington’s innings was in tatters as they found themselves 57 for 5 in the 24th over.

Jones’ 40 came off 70 balls and Wellington really needed him to stay there in order to post a competitive total.

Jones’ demise bought Matthew Walker to the crease. Walker in doubt for this match, after injuring himself in Saturday’s game against Otago, worked the ball around nicely and together with Donaldson, established a crucial partnership. They were both able to work the ball around and pick up plenty of ones and twos off Schwass and Hamilton, operating from the southern end, and Sulzberger, from the northern end.

Central weren’t helped by some sloppy ground fielding either.

After 29 overs, Wellington had crawled to 76 for 5.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first in fine and seemingly batter friendly conditions, Wellington were 4 for 16 after 13 overs.

Matthew Bell, Chris Nevin, Stephen Fleming and James Franklin were all back in the dressing room, after being dismissed for scores of 0, 2, 5 and 0 (first ball) respectively.

Mason was the chief destroyer. After 7 overs he had figures of 3 for 10.

Wellington were in trouble from the first over. Both opening bowlers put immediate pressure on Wellington with good line and length attack.

After 5 overs Wellington were 6 for 2.

First to go was captain Matthew Bell for a duck in the first over, bowled by Schwass. Bell got a ball down the leg side and in his attempt to tickle it fine only succeeded in gloving it to Central keeper Bevan Griggs who took an easy catch.

Three overs later Chris Nevin was on his way for 2. Nevin unnecessarily fished at a rising Mason delivery and only succeeded in gifting Campbell Furlong a comfortable catch at second slip.

Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming and Richard Jones set about resurrecting the innings, but it was slow going. Fleming, searching for some semblance of good batting form struggled with his timing, while Jones, more assured, looked to play himself in.

Consequently, after 10 overs Wellington had limped to 12/2. Schwass had bowled 5 overs, 1 for 3, while Mason had bowled 5 overs, 1 for 8.

Then in Mason’s seventh over and the thirteenth of the innings, disaster struck Wellington. Twice.

Fleming, frustrated and, unfortunately for New Zealand, badly out of form, skied a catch to third man, where Lance Hamilton took the catch.

Franklin was out the very next ball, caught at second slip by Furlong.

It was left to Grant Donaldson and Jones to dig in. After 17 overs, Wellington were 29 for 4, with Jones on 17 and Donaldson yet to score.

Both sides are coming off narrow first up wins after Wellington pipped Otago by two runs and Central Districts edged out Canterbury by 19 runs on Saturday.

Wellington captain Matthew Bell has won the toss and has chosen to bat first.

The weather is fine and sunny. The wicket looks to be a good one, with plenty of bounce and pace expected. The outfield is fast. Conditions look conducive for a high scoring encounter.

This will please the batsmen, as the key strengths of both sides looks to be in their opening bowling attacks. Former internationals James Franklin and Andrew Penn will test the Central top order, while Central will look to new test international Michael Mason and Andrew Schwass to contain Wellington’s batting.

Chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee will be looking on today as several players from both sides press for world cup inclusions. Notably, if Wellington wicketkeeper batsmen Chris Nevin has a big game he could book his place in the squad.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, short of runs so far this season, is playing today for Wellington as well. Fleming takes the place of Neal Parlane, who is injured.

The teams are as follows,

Wellington: Matthew Bell (captain), Grant Donaldson, Stephen Fleming, James Franklin, Mark Jefferson, Richard Jones, Chris Nevin, Mayu Pasupati, Andrew Penn, Ashley Turner, Matthew Walker, Mark Gillespie (twelfth man)

Central Districts: Craig Spearman (captain), Jesse Ryder, Peter Ingram, Glen Sulzberger, Ian Sandbrook, Bevan Griggs, Greg Loveridge, Campbell Furlong, Michael Mason, Lance Hamilton, Andrew Schwass, Brent Hefford (twelfth man).

The umpires are Evan Watkin and Robert Anderson.