Rippon throws lot in with NZ
BY February, Michael Rippon will be as Kiwi as bro.
The South Africanborn Dutch international is switching allegiances.
He will stay in Dunedin during the offseason and play for Otago next season as a qualifying player. Come February next year, he will have met the criteria to play as a local in the New Zealand domestic competition.
‘‘I’ve just really loved my time here,’’ Rippon said when asked why he had decided to stay on.
‘‘I’ve only been here two months but I’ve really enjoyed the cricket. and just feel I can improve as a cricketer in this setup. I’m throwing my lot in with New Zealand cricket and I think it is the right decision.’’
The 25yearold has made an impact for his adopted province since arriving in Dunedin in January.
A leftarm leg spinner, he is a rarity in world cricket. And other than Daniel Flynn, who occasionally dabbles in the art, he is the only one applying the trade at first class in New Zealand.
That makes him a difficult proposition to face. In five onedayers, he has picked up seven wickets at an average of 27.71, and as a makeshift opener he scored some valuable runs as well.
In the longer format, his bowling has been hindered by a back complaint during the past few weeks and he was ruled out of Otago’s Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts at the University Oval this week. But when fit, he is a threat and has taken seven wickets at 28.14.
With Otago’s slow bowling stocks having thinned with Mark Craig’s injury and Nick Beard’s unavailability, Rippon’s arrival was a considerable boost. He was actively encouraged to stay around and his decision to remain warmly welcomed.
‘‘I’m looking really forward to doing a winter here. I haven’t done a preseason for six years.
‘‘I have mixed feelings about the winter here, but for my development, I’m looking forward to building my body up so I can play a full season and try to improve on my skills.’’
Rippon will also be doing some coaching work during the winter to help pay the bills.
FOR a guy who had just claimed his maiden 10wicket bag, Ish Sodhi was awfully flat.
The Black Caps and Northern Districts legspinner has bowled a lot better and not got the rewards, so he was happy enough to take the freebies that were on offer against Otago at the University Oval yesterday.
But the low mood was down to Northern’s position on the Plunket Shield table. The visiting side started the final round in third place, 14 points adrift of competition leader Canterbury.
But the bowling bonus points Canterbury secured against Wellington have left Northern too far behind to win the trophy even if it beats Otago today.
‘‘I’m pretty happy with the amount of wickets I got,’’ Sodhi said.
‘‘To come back from a pretty tough day on the first day where I didn’t bowl as well as I felt I could was pleasing.
‘‘I bowled a lot better today and got some rewards for some hard work during the season.’’
Sodhi claimed a careerbest tally of seven for 59 in Otago’s second innings to go with the four for 130 he took earlier in the game.
It was his maiden firstclass 10wicket bag. There were a few gifts in his match haul of 11 for 189 as Otago batted with abandon in its second dig.
The Volts declared at 189 for eight with a lead of 346. Northern is 15 without loss and will resume today needing 332 to win.
The game is interestingly poised. But it is what happens elsewhere which will decide the title.
Auckland leads Central Districts by 209 runs with six wickets in hand and a day to play in Napier. It can overhaul Canterbury if it can force an outright victory.
Canterbury, meanwhile, is struggling against Wellington at Hagley Oval. It leads by 59 runs with four wickets in hand.
Back in Dunedin, Otago toporder batsman Josh TasmanJones continued his impressive debut with an unbeaten 59, and young Otago seamers Nathan Smith and Michael Rae took three wickets apiece to help dismiss Northern for under 300 in its first innings.
Anaru Kitchen blazed a double century in Otago’s first innings but became one of Sodhi’s victims yesterday when mistimed a cut shot to point on two.
It was one of several soft dismissals, not that Sodhi was complaining.
He has a good record at the University Oval. His previousbest return of seven for 102 was also in Dunedin.
‘‘I bowled 10 times better when I got seven for 102 as well.
‘‘I guess it was just one of those days when it went my way because they were coming hard. It is in the book now, so that is all that matters.
‘‘I’ve bowled a lot this season without much luck at all, so I guess this is just a result of persevering and sticking to my guns.’’
Brad Wilson was the first to succumb to Sodhi. He was trapped lbw for a fine innings of 62 by a delivery which barely got above ankle height.
Fellow opener Gregor Croudis was next. He topedged a slop sweep.
Sean Eathorne toed a full toss to midon but Derek de Boorder got a good ball. It turned away and took the outside edge of his bat.
Kitchen completed Sodhi’s fivewicket bag with a forgettable shot. And the strokes that got Christi Viljoen and Rhys Phillips out were in the same category.
The best ball was bowled by paceman Scott Kuggeleijn. He bamboozled Smith with a terrific slow ball that dipped suddenly and clattered into the stumps.
Earlier, Northern resumed on 162 for five. Tim Seifert’s knock of 37 and Sodhi’s undefeated cameo of 27 helped Northern get through to 275.
Otago had a firstinnings lead of 157 but opted against enforcing the follow on.
Allrounder Sam Wells left the field with a side strain and may not bowl today.