The Otago seamer had no problem finding the edge during the morning session at the University Oval. He picked up four quick wickets with some nifty out-swing bowling, but the prized fifth wicket remained elusive.
Central Districts No11 Liam Dudding played and missed five or six times during a short stint at the crease. The batsman's inability to get any wood on the ball left Duffy a little exasperated.
But the bowler eventually got to throw his arms in the air when Dudding mistimed a drive. It floated to mid off where Michael Bracewell took the easiest of catches.
Duffy finished with five for 96 from 25.3 overs to help dismiss Central for 258.
It was his fourth five-wicket bag and good reward for the 21-year-old.
‘‘It was a long time coming after those first four wickets,'' Duffy said.‘‘I went searching a bit at times. I got a bit greedy and tried to bowl some yorkers and stuff. But it happened, so I'm happy.
‘‘It is good to finally have a haul this year.''Duffy had a breakthrough summer last season with 45 first-class wickets at an average of 24.06, including three five-wicket bags.
But wickets have proved harder to come by since. So far he has 23 at an average of a shade over 36 this season.
‘‘I'm just trying to chip away and do the same thing. I've been sticking to some of the processes but as a team we just haven't clicked in this four-day stuff.
‘‘It is pretty hard when you have to chip away and there is nothing to fight for any more.
Duffy said he had a good session with Otago bowling coach Warren McSkimming last week and that had helped him ‘‘a lot in terms of getting my swing back''.
‘‘I took a few wickets after that and I'm starting to feel pretty good now. Up until then I had lost my swing a little bit and it wasn't ideal.''
