Taylor hits second fifty after eye surgery to power Central Districts

After a month away from the game to have a benign growth removed from his left eye, Ross Taylor had returned with a bang. He followed up his unbeaten 82 off 41 against Auckland with another match-winning effort of 80 off 50 for Central Districts against Canterbury in the Super Smash 2016-17.

Central Districts chose to bat, and suffered big blow early on losing Mahela Jayawardene for 4. They were on shaky ground when they lost captain Will Young an over later to be reduced to 17 for 2, but Taylor walked in and settled things down for them along with opener George Worker. Worker fell to the legspin of Todd Astle one short of a fifty, but not before adding 78 at nine to the over with Taylor to beat Canterbury back. From thereon, Canterbury managed to strike regular blows at one end, but Taylor held his up remarkably well, slamming six sixes in his 50-ball knock that ended in the final over of the innings.

Chasing 191, five of Canterbury's top six got off to starts, but none could kick on. With no one to anchor the innings, the chase was repeatedly dented by wickets and fell away. They were bowled out with five balls to spare, well short of the target, with fast bowler Seth Rance cutting through their middle with four wickets.

The win opened up Central Districts' lead on the points table - they now have six wins and 26 points in nine games, an eight-point lead over No. 2 Northern Districts.