CS vs OTG 19th Match, Super Smash 2023-24

1:35 PM IST, 8:55 PM Local Time: So that’s that and it’s the Central Districts that have secured the win by 52 runs after bundling Otago to 135 from 18 overs.

It was a solid effort by the Districts with the bat as they got to a first innings total of 187/5 from 20 overs. 

Although they did lose the early wicket of Bayley Wiggins 1 (4), the duo of Will Young and Dane Cleaver compiled an impressive 108 run stand. Cleaver 50 (33) played second fiddle in the partnership as he struck five fours and a six before getting dismissed to Jake Gibson.

Tom Bruce’s 15 (13) stay on the wicket was brief as he got sent back by Jacob Duffy. However, it was the Will Young show as he remained unfazed and unbeaten right till the very end. The specialist opener struck a scintillating 101 (63)*. Young struck 10 fours and three sixes while doing most of the heavy lifting to guide his side to a par score. 

Travis Muller, Andrew Hazeldine, Jacob Duffey and Jake Gibson all chipped in with a wicket apiece. 

As for the run chase, the Central Districts started off the innings in the most ideal manner as they chipped in with two quick wickets for 20 runs. It was Bevan Small who contributed with the wickets of Jake Gibson 8 (8) and Hamish Rutherford 18 (13). Hamish Rutherford did get settled in but failed to convert his start into something significant as he was dismissed by Doug Bracewell. 

The skipper Dean Foxcroft was sent back for not as Bevan Small claimed his third wicket of the night. 

Max Chu 34 (20) did top the charts for his side but was sent back by Ajaz Patel just as he was looking to take things forward.  

Dale Phillips 16 (22) and Ollie White 30 (22) also tried to restabilize the innings but it didn’t have much of an impact Otago kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Ajaz Patel did the rest with his left arm spin as he cleaned up the tail while bagging a four-fer. Patel ended up with figures of 4/24 from four, whereas, Bevan Small also impressed with 3/19 from three. 

Doug Bracewell and Jayden Lennox also contributed with a wicket each. So the Districts will be mighty pleased with their all-round performance, whereas, Otago will have to go back to the drawing board as they look to respond in the fixtures ahead. 

Will Young (Player of the Match): "Certainly was a special innings. Was disappointed after the last performance but am pleased with how things worked out today. Extra motivation today, told my partners to make it our day and not lose our wickets in clumps like we did in the previous game. A little bit of predetermination is there during batting but sometimes you have to wait for the ball and time it. Ajaz has been brilliant with the ball and our spinners did come into play with this used wicket."