The impressive individual performances keep coming in the opening phase of 50-over Ford Trophy competition.
Young opener Curtis Heaphy scored his maiden List-A century to help Central Districts to a 108-run victory over the Otago Volts at Dunedin's University of Otago Oval in Round 4 on Wednesday.
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The 21-year-old right-hander from Manawatu struck 10 fours and two sixes but it was his accumulation that was just as impressive in his 145-ball inning of 142 as Central amassed 330-7 in their 50 overs.
Heaphy and Brad Schmulian (78 runs from 77 balls, including 10 fours and six) put on 144 runs for the opening partnership, then Heaphy and Jack Boyle (53 from 42) tacked on another 89 for the second wicket, taking CD to 233-2 in the 39th over.
Heaphy almost carried his bat through the innings, dismissed by Jake Gibson, who was Otago's best with 3-67 from 10 overs, with the final ball of the 49th over.
Needing better than 6.5 runs an over, Otago made a cautious start to their reply, before opener Thorn Parkes (59 from 70) and Llew Johnson (27 from 35) pushed the total towards triple-digits.
The Volts lost Parkes, Leo Carter and Dean Foxcroft in quick succession to leave the hosts reeling at 133-5 in the 30th over. Luke Georgeson (40 from 43) and Max Chu (34 from 28) provided the last resistance, before Otago were all-out for 222 in the 43rd over.
Leg-spinner Jayden Lennox finished with 3-67 from 9.4 for Central, while Black Caps paceman Blair Tickner and part-timer Will Clark each took two wickets.
Two maiden List-A five-wicket bags helped the Auckland Aces and Wellington Firebirds to comfortable wins in Wednesday's other matches.
Simon Keene took 5-29 from seven as Auckland rolled to a seven-wicket victory over Canterbury at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval, while Peter Younghusband grabbed 5-42 from 7.3 in Wellington's 49-run victory over Northern Districts in Hamilton.
Keene's devastating spell knocked off Canterbury's top-order, including the wickets of Henry Nicholls and Chad Bowes. Lockie Ferguson, who took 3-33 from nine, chimed in with two wickets as the visitors were 31-6 in the 10th over.
In a rain-shortened innings, the Cantabs were all-out for 109 in the 30th of 44 overs. The Aces easily chased down the total, with Sean Solia top-scoring with 45 from 52, as they ended the match in the 22nd over.
Younghusband took the last five wickets to end ND's run-chase at 199 in the 38th over, in response to Wellington's 248 all-out.
Northern were down and out at 108-7 before Brett Hampton (53 from 36) and Kristian Clarke (37 from 36) gave them faint hope. Black Cap Nathan Smith and Logan van Beek also took two wickets for the Firebirds.
Earlier, Mohammad Abbas was the standout for Wellington with the bat, striking 79 from 70, including 12 fours and a six. Retired Black Cap Neil Wagner and Hampton each took three wickets for the home side.
One more round of the Ford Trophy remains before the domestic cricket season switches to the four-day Plunket Shield and T20 Super Smash. The second half of the Ford Trophy is scheduled from February 6-23.
On Sunday, the competition-leading Aces take on Northern Districts at Hamilton's Seddon Park, Canterbury host Central Districts at Rangiora's Mainpower Oval and Otago welcome Wellington to University Oval. All matches start at 10.30am.