ANDY JACKSON/Taranaki Daily News

TOP EFFORT: Central Stags left-arm pace bowler Ewen Thompson took 6-20 at Pukekura Park yesterday, an effort that reduced Canterbury to a record-low total against Central Districts of 77.

Taranaki's Ewen Thompson came up with career-best figures as the Central Stags smashed the Canterbury Wizards in a one-sided one-day cricket match at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park yesterday.

The Stags fast bowler grabbed six wickets for 20 runs off 9.4 overs as the Wizards failed to conjure any magic, staggering to a record low of 77 off 32.4 overs batting first.

Canterbury's previous lowest score in a one-day game against Central was 109. It was never going to be enough and fans hoping to catch some of the action after work were out of luck, with the Stags racing through to 79-2 off 14.2 overs and a win by eight wickets.

The Stags, fresh from beating Auckland in the national Twenty20 final on the same ground, leapfrogged the Wizards to second on the points table behind the Auckland Aces, gaining a bonus point along the way for losing only two wickets.

"That's my best-ever," said a delighted Thompson afterwards. "I've definitely got five wickets before, but never six."

Thompson has been a spectator in recent weeks, carrying the drinks tray during the Twenty20 competition.

"I guess I was fresh, I haven't played. It's been hard being on the sideline, but in saying that, it's been fantastic that the guys have done the job. I'm just pleased to be back on the park."

While conceding Canterbury didn't bat well, Thompson said bowling conditions were favourable.

"It was a good toss to win, with overcast conditions. There was a bit of movement ... more in the air than off the deck," he said.

"Michael [Mason] and Graham [Napier] set the platform. They put the ball in the right place. They've been exceptional over the last month. Graham is the ultimate professional and Michael's been brilliant."

Thompson said the team's focus was now on Saturday's game against the Northern Knights in Whangarei.

"We have to prepare well for that one and then come back here for Otago on Tuesday," he said. "We're unbeaten on this ground this season and we want to continue with that. If we can finish top, the final will be here ... all the boys are pushing for that."

The six-wicket bag lifted Thompson's career tally in national domestic one-day matches to more than 100. He made his debut in the 2000-01 season.

Canterbury's miserable day could not have got off to a worse start with opener Michael Papps out for a duck caught by Bevan Griggs off Mason.

Things never improved, 1-1 became 6-2 when captain Peter Fulton was bowled by Napier.

Wickets continued to tumble with little resistance from the southerners. Only three players made it to double figures, with three out for ducks. The five former Black Caps in the side – Papps, Fulton, Chris Harris, Shane Bond and Chris Martin – could only muster five runs between them.

Amazingly, the Canterbury tally included four fours and two sixes.

The loss of opener George Worker without scoring was the only real hiccup in the Stags' run chase, with captain Jamie How guiding the side home to the eight-wicket win with an unbeaten 46 including nine fours.

Meanwhile, in Wellington yesterday former national under-19 captain Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten century as Northern Districts cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

Wellington, asked to bat after losing the toss, scored 216, a total boosted by half-centuries from wicketkeeper Chris Nevin and allrounder Luke Woodcock.

Northern Districts chased the target down in just 33 overs.

Williamson, who ended 108 not out, was brutal on the short deliveries, pulling and hooking five sixes and collecting another seven boundaries in a 133-minute stay. He needed 42 balls to reach his half-century and brought up his century with a six off the 96th delivery he faced. It was his second century of the season and third of his one-day provincial career. And those who pigeon hole Tim McIntosh as a first-class specialist will have to think again after the New Zealand test opener bludgeoned his maiden one-day century to help Auckland to a crushing 84-run win over Otago yesterday.

McIntosh's fluent 138, made off 127 balls and including 16 fours and three sixes, laid the platform for Auckland's record 362-5 at Oamaru, a total Otago never challenged despite an unbeaten 110 from Yasir Arafat.

Otago's chase ended on 278 in the 47th over after Arafat and Greg Todd got Otago out of trouble at 79-6.