Central Districts are domestic one-day champions, claiming a comprehensive 156-run victory over Canterbury at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth today.
Opening batsman George Worker scored 159 off 151 balls for the Stags, while Tom Bruce blasted his way to 71 off 23 in a devastating display to help CD bring up 405 for six.
Former Black Cap Jesse Ryder was also among the runs, scoring 62, as were Will Young (51) and Ben Smith (40), all keeping their strike rates above 100.
The bowling statistics made for some ugly reading, with only Ed Nuttall keeping his economy rate to below a run a ball, although went wicketless off eight overs. In general the wicket-takers were expensive, with Kyle Jamieson (two for 81) and Andy Ellis (two for 97) both going at nine an over, while Logan van Beek (one for 70) went at 11.67.
A tough chase became even tougher for Canterbury, losing two wickets inside the first two overs. They had little option but to keep the strike rate up though. After Peter Fulton fell not long after, Todd Astle and Andy Ellis offered the first real resistance.
They put on 121 runs for the fourth wicket, before Astle was dismissed for 65. Andy Ellis would go onto make 101, although it was slim pickings the rest of the way, as Canterbury finished on 249 for nine off 37.4 overs.
Bevan Small claimed three wickets for 59 runs for Central, while Seth Rance had a good return of two for 17.
