Another brutal innings from Central Districts all-rounder Jesse Ryder has trumped a similarly superb knock from Canterbury's Cameron Fletcher in the latest round of the New Zealand domestic Twenty20 competition.
Jesse Ryder goes on the attack for the CD Stags. Photo: Photosport
Former Black Caps player Ryder belted 84 from just 40 balls at the top of the order as the Stags posted an impressive 213-5 batting first at Nelson's Saxton Oval on Sunday.
The home team looked to be cruising to victory before visiting wicketkeeper Fletcher, in combination with Cole McConchie, breathed new life into the contest.
However, Fletcher's 74 from 39 balls and McConchie's 54 off 37 did not quite prove enough, with CD hanging on for an eight-run win as Canterbury finished on 205-6.
The only other match of the day between Otago and Wellington in Dunedin was abandoned due to rain.
In Nelson, Ryder was typically in no mood to hang around, hitting his first ball for four and adding seven more plus six sixes before he eventually fell in the 12th over with the score already up to 134.
Will Young continued the momentum after Ryder's departure, the Stags captain plundering 53 from only 31 balls and Josh Clarkson belting 28 off 15 at the death as the hosts notched a formidable total.
In a sign of just how well CD had batted, England international Ben Stokes conceded 42 runs and went wicketless from his four overs.
No Canterbury bowler went for less than nine per-over, skipper Andy Ellis the pick of the attack with 2-28 from three overs.
The visitors' reply got off to a poor start as CD swing merchant Seth Rance got rid of openers Nick Kwant and Michael Pollard inside three overs.
By the time Stokes was caught at long-on from the bowling of Bevan Small for 17 off 10, Canterbury looked all but gone at 4-62 in the seventh over.
Fletcher and McConchie, though, had other ideas.
The two put on 116 for the fifth wicket in just 65 balls, getting their team within 36 runs of victory before McConchie, having hit five fours and two sixes, was dismissed.
Fletcher did his utmost to get his side over the line in the dying stages, but a miserly penultimate over from Rance wrapped the win up for the Stags.
Fletcher hit eight sixes and six fours in his unbeaten knock.
Rance and fellow seamer Blair Tickner finished with two wickets apiece for CD, while leg-spinner Ajaz Patel was the most economical of the regular bowlers with 0-36 from his four overs.
