What better way for Central Districts to turn around their disastrous last visit to the Basin Reserve to play Wellington than by notching a rousing victory in the State Shield today.

Last summer in their State Shield match, Wellington took 17.3 overs to dismiss CD for a miserable 58.

And while today's win was not quite as emphatic as CD would have wanted to permanently wipe out that stain, it was still set up with an outstanding batting display from the experienced hand of Craig Spearman and the rising star of Jesse Ryder playing only his second match at this level.

Wellington performed poorly with the bat after batting first. They were four wickets down for only 16 runs, including New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who was rushed into the match in a bid to allow him another chance for all-important batting time.

But it was a disappointing result for him as he was out for five runs, caught from Michael Mason's bowling.

Richard Jones threw out an anchor for Wellington with at 70-ball 40 while some solid, if unspectacular batting, from the middle and lower-order at least ensured that Wellington batted out time and gave their bowlers something to defend.

Grant Donaldson (22), Matthew Walker (27), Mark Jefferson (15) and a timely 34 off 35 balls by Mayu Pasupati got Wellington up to 185 for nine wickets when it ran out of overs.

Mason was again outstanding with three for 22 from his 10 overs and could be a prospect yet for World Cup contention on this sort of form. Andrew Schwass continued his impressive bowling by taking two for 32 from 10.

Any qualms that CD might have had about the batting conditions were quelled by their openers. Spearman was outstanding in the way that he can be in scoring 74 off 65 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. His 50 took only 38 balls. He was finally dismissed when caught at mid-off by Matthew Bell when playing a tired shot to a ball from Andrew Penn. But CD were well on the way by that stage at 146 for four wickets.

Ryder helped Spearman add 110 for the first wicket in only 14.2 overs when scoring his maiden State Shield half century and being out for 51 off 48 balls. He was bowled by Ash Turner.

CD got the speed wobbles, however, and threatened to undo the good work of the openers when Peter Ingram was out for a duck, Glen Sulzberger for five, Ian Sandbrook and Greg Loveridge for 13 each, and Bevan Griggs for one, with three wickets falling for seven runs at one stage. A superb catch by Bell to dismiss Loveridge almost proved inspirational.

But, fortunately, Campbell Furlong and Schwass settled things down and just worked the ball around to get their side home by three wickets.

Wellington's bowlers, like their top-order batsmen, were out-gunned and none really came through the opening assault. Of the bowlers used in the innings, Pasupati had 13 runs from his three overs, but the rest suffered. Turner came back well to take three for 51.

CD had their win, however, and with the victory achieved after 33.4 overs, they picked up a bonus point to share the lead in the competition with Northern Districts.

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