Midinnings wickets halt Volts’ unbeaten run

A STUMBLE midway through its innings has cost Otago the chance of extending its unbeaten run.

The Volts posted a useful total of 291 for six in Lincoln.

But Northern Districts had no problem overhauling the target and did so with seven wickets and more than two overs to spare.

Former international Dean Brownlie starred with 110 — his fifth century in the format.

The 34yearold righthander combined in a 162run opening stand with Bharat Popli. From there it was all rather easy.

Popli departed for 67 after he picked out a fielder. He was replaced at the crease by Nick Kelly who had little trouble keeping up the relentless pressure on the Volts’ attack.

He scored 55 at quicker than a runaball to make sure the next players in were not under too much scoreboard pressure.

Anton Devcich (27 not out) and Daryl Mitchell (22 not out) are experienced campaigners and combined to complete the job.

Otago was on a fourgame winning streak and a win would have booked it a place in the playoffs.

While the defeat is a setback, the Volts (22 points) are still wellplaced. They are in second place with two rounds remaining.

Northern (18 points) is in third place and has closed the gap to Otago. It is making a late run after a disappointing start to the Ford Trophy tournament.

Wellington (27 points) is through to the playoffs. It held off Canterbury (9 points) to win by 23 runs at Hagley Oval.

Auckland (16 points) remains in fourth place and just outside a playoffs spot, despite notching a fourwicket win against Central Districts (11 points) at Lincoln.

Otago coach Rob Walter took his side’s defeat philosophically. But he felt the Volts were 30 runs short of a more competitive total and pinpointed the dismissals of Anaru Kitchen (4) and Mitch Renwick as a costly period in terms of the momentum of the innings.

‘‘We lost two wickets in the 30th over just when we were looking to accelerate and that probably influenced the next five overs,’’ Walter said.

‘‘It probably influenced what overs 38 to 43 looked like as well and those two things put together, in my opinion, probably cost us 30 runs.

‘‘If you add 30 to our total, then it would have been a really close game.’’

Otago had to make a late change when opener Hamish Rutherford was called into the New Zealand A side.

That meant Brad Wilson had to open while everyone else shuffled up the order one spot.

Spinner Mark Craig remains on the injury list and is unlikely to play in tomorrow’s match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval.

The first ball of the game was a wide but the next took a wicket. Wilson edged behind and left with a 0 beside his name.

It was the first of three wickets for Randell. He claimed the key wicket of Neil Broom (10) and was economical as well.

Nathan Smith and Renwick put on a valuable stand of 107 for the third wicket to help rebuild the innings. Smith scored a careerhigh 71 from 82 deliveries and did a tremendous job batting so far up the order.

He is an allrounder to look out for in the future. Renwick also posted a careerhigh with 61.

Michael Rippon (71 not out) and Josh Finnie (36) helped power Otago towards 300.

Rippon swatted five sixes and most of them came deep in the innings. He had a fine day with the ball as well, with none for 40 from 10 overs — a frugal spell in the context of the game.