It was always going to take something special for Northern Districts to deny Central Districts on the final day of their Plunket Shield cricket match in Gisborne today and they made little impression against a side who have now jumped to the top of the table.
Central Districts enjoyed an eight-wicket win over Northern, coasting to their target of 95 for the loss of two wickets inside 20.3 overs.
Jeet Raval backed up his first innings score of 73 with an unbeaten 57 and, alongside Matthew Sinclair (7 not out), guided his team to a comfortable victory.
The only casualties of the day were Jamie How (20) and Carl Cachopa (nine), both captured by Brent Arnel. Raval played a good hand in the victory but it was set up by Central's bowling attack, who bundled Northern Districts out for 183 and 252.
Youngsters Ben Wheeler and Adam Milne took 12 wickets in the match - four each on day three - to put their side in a strong position.
Central have now won two of their first three games to top the Plunket Shield table. Northern Districts are still searching for their first outright victory, having lost two and drawn one to sit in fifth place.
Rain forced the second day of Canterbury's match with Wellington in Rangiora to be abandoned. Canterbury are 91-2 in reply to Wellington's 239, with Peter Fulton (32 not out) and Dean Brownlie (53 not out) still at the crease.
Tomorrow's forecast is for fine weather.
