Dutch international Ryan ten Doeschate got to celebrate his
100th first-class game in style with a century at the
University Oval yesterday.
The 32-year-old all-rounder was on 88 at stumps on the first
day of Otago's Plunket Shield match with Central Districts at
the University Oval on Monday.
He reached the milestone with a quick single to mid-on but it
was not without drama. He had to dive to make his ground and
a direct hit may well have caught the batsman short of his
crease.
Ten Doeschate stayed down in a crumbled heap for a few
moments to catch his breath and gather himself after the
narrow escape, then rose and acknowledged his team-mates'
applause by raising his bat.
It might have been his 19th first-class hundred but Central
did its very best to create extra pressure, bringing left-arm
spinner Ajaz Patel on to bowl when he was on 99 and
surrounding the batsmen with a few close-in fielders.
"Generally I don't get nervous,'' ten Doeschate said.
"But I was very keen to get the 100 in my debut for Otago. It
was a little bit scratchy from 90 to 100 but I wouldn't say I
was nervous. But I guess you don't always do the most
sensible things on 99. But I think I judged the single all
right.''
Ten Doeschate was eventually run out for 118 but his form
bodes well for the rest of his stay in New Zealand. He signed
with Otago to play in the HRV Cup and is unlikely to remain
on after the twenty/20 tournament despite attempts by Otago
coach Vaughn Johnson to convince him to extend his stay.
"VJ is trying to get cheeky and see what I'm doing at the end
of January. But I don't think I'll be playing any more
first-class cricket. I don't think too much first-class
cricket is a good idea during the off-season.''
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