Central Districts make slow progress on opening day

Central Districts 184 for 2 (Englefield 69, Sinclair 55*) v Wellington
Scorecard

Half-centuries by Jarrod Englefield and Mathew Sinclair helped Central Districts reach a comfortable 184 for 2 at close of play on the first day of the State Championship final at the Basin Reserve. The Wellington bowlers made run-making a difficult proposition - Central Districts scored at barely more than two per over - but couldn't manage more than two wickets in nearly 87 overs.

Sent in to bat, Central Districts got off to a steady start as the openers Geoff Barnett and Englefield, the captain, put on 81. Barnett scored 41 off 129 balls with six boundaries before he was dismissed leg-before by Scott Rasmussen. Englefield brought up a laborious half-century in 196 balls and along with Sinclair, the pair added 95 for the second wicket. Rasmussen claimed the second wicket as well, as Englefield edged one to Stu Mills, the wicketkeeper, for 69. His obdurate knock came off 240 balls with seven fours. Sinclair was unbeaten on 55 at close of play on a day on which the ball made its way to the fence only 16 times.

All the Wellington bowlers maintained a tight leash, with Rasmussen taking 2 for 32 from 21.5 overs. The most expensive bowler on show was Dewayne Bowden, the left-arm seamer, whose 14 overs went for 37.