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Bruce blitz, bowlers hand Central Districts easy win

Central Districts 165 for 9 (Bruce 54, Worker 30, Verma 4-27) beat Wellington 132 (Pollard 44, Ronchi 42, Milne 2-18) by 33 runs
Scorecard

Tom Bruce's blitz followed by an all-round bowling display provided Central Districts with their fourth win of the season, by 33 runs against Wellington in Napier.

Central Districts were given a strong start after choosing to bat. Captain George Worker and Mahela Jayawardena smashed 48 in 35 balls before Anurag Verma had Jayawardena caught behind for 23 - his first score of less than 50 in three innings in the season. A few quick wickets ensued leaving Central Districts at 66 for 3 in the 10th over. Bruce, batting at No. 4, then combined with 18-year-old Josh Clarkson for a match-changing 53-run partnership in just 35 balls.

Bruce struck two sixes and seven fours in his 31-ball 54 and took Central Districts past 150 before Wellington clawed their way back by restricting the hosts to 11 off the last two overs, as they finished with 165. Verma ended with career-best figures of 4 for 27 in his four overs.

Wellington lost all that momentum as they were quickly reduced to 17 for 3 in the fourth over of the chase, with Seth Rance picking up two of those wickets. The match swung again as Luke Ronchi (42 off 22) and Michael Pollard (44 off 34), who were the only batsmen to reach double-digit scores, formed a 59-run stand off 38 balls to bring Wellington back into the contest.

With Wellington requiring 90 off the last 10 overs, the match looked set for a thrilling finish, but a clump of wickets turned the match in Central Districts' favour. Wellington were eventually bowled out for 132 in 19 overs, with Adam Milne being the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 18.