Captain Stead gets his wish

Canterbury captain, Gary Stead's wish that his side would come out and "play their best with their backs to the wall," in this Shell Trophy match with Central Districts, came true.

Thanks to his genie in a bottle, Gareth Hopkins, the first one of his three wishes for the rest of the season was granted.

Wish list "number one" was "to bat for as long as we can and save the game."

Number two is to win the Shell Cup, for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

Number three is, in the Shell Trophy, to "learn to win again at this level."

At a sunny Village Green ground in Christchurch, Canterbury's previous three days of disappointment seemed like a bad dream.

They batted without a care in the world, with Aaron Redmond (80) and Gareth Hopkins (100 not out) making their top scores of the season.

It was Central who had the nightmare task of removing stubborn all-rounders on a very good wicket. Occasionally the Stags broke through, but two stands of 97 meant they would have to bat again.

At 5.20pm, just after Hopkin's reached his gritty ton, the players shook hands, with a result impossible. Canterbury, were by then 362/8, 117 ahead, with a maximum of 13 overs remaining.

The loss of 68 overs yesterday came back to haunt CD, as did the catches they dropped. Hopkins was missed today on 39 - a difficult caught and bowled chance given to Gareth West.

He went on to score his second career century, and averages 82.75 for the season. He and Carl Anderson (20) effectively killed off Central's fantasy of a Shell Trophy win during an eighth wicket stand of 63.

Central deserved the win in reality, as they had been on top from the first hour of the first day. Only rain and Canterbury's unsung lower middle order held them off.

Tomorrow's clash at Timaru between the same sides will be different. Having rediscovered their form, and with Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and Chris Harris back, Canterbury's line up will be given "real steel" to use captain Gary Stead's phrase.