Run feast ends in well-fought draw

Canterbury survived the fourth day to gain an honourable draw in the Shell Trophy match with Central Districts at Blenheim this afternoon.

Canterbury started the final day with the home team heavily favoured to achieve an outright victory.

Central Districts needed only six Canterbury wickets but had not figured on some stout red and black defence.

In the event the game finished an hour early at 5pm in a draw with Central Districts gaining two points for their first innings lead.

Canterbury batted all day to force a draw on a good Horton Park batting pitch.

Captain Gary Stead (79), Shane Bond (66 not out), Carl Anderson (65) and Aaron Redmond (35) continued on to allow Canterbury to occupy the crease and to also reach 422/8. That meant Canterbury was 152 runs ahead when both captains agreed there was not prospect of an outright result.

It was a game that was dominated by the batting of Jarrod Englefield for Canterbury with 172 and 90 and David Kelly for Central Districts with 212 not out.

The bowlers of both sides never really held the ascendancy on an excellent batting pitch and played a secondary role to the batsmen in the contest. Leg spinner Tim Anderson had a long bowl in partnership with off spinner Glen Sulzberger. Anderson finished with four for 150 and Sulzberger two for 126.

However, Central Districts looked the more competent unit and because of this thoroughly deserved their points for the first innings lead.