Central Districts complete 18-run win

Central Districts completed their two-day one-day semifinal against Otago with a 18-run victory. In reply to Central's 274 for 7, posted on Wednesday, Otago reached 256 for 7. Otago will be cursing its approach as it died wondering, waiting far too long to press the accelerator. Neil Broom (72) and Jordan Sheed (49) were the best of the batsmen but the hammer blow was struck when free-scoring import Jonathan Trott was run out for 34. Ewen Thompson (2 for 36) was the most effective of the Central bowlers.

Earlier, Ross Taylor piled further pressure on the selectors to name him in their New Zealand squad to face the West Indies this month by scoring his third one-day century (114 from 117) of the season. But the selectors resisted, for the first two matches anyway, naming a predictable squad with no new names. Taylor has scored 553 runs at an average of 69 for the State Shield, by some margin the best aggregate. The right-hander took a while to get going as he struggled for timing and had the unTaylor-like analysis of just 44 runs in boundaries (8 fours, 2 sixes). Jarrod Engelfield (31) and Bevan Griggs (36) leant the best support as the home team struggled on a sluggish wicket. Brad Scott was the best of the Otago bowlers with 2 for 45 from his 10 overs. Central now meets canterbury in Christchurch on Sunday.