Volts take ‘huge step forward’ in making playoffs

OTAGO secured a place in the Ford Trophy playoffs with a tense fourwicket win against Canterbury at Hagley Oval yesterday.

Multiple heroes emerged for the Volts.

Captain Jacob Duffy claimed a careerbest six for 35.

Veteran toporder batsman Brad Wilson posted his maiden oneday century and nearly carried his bat.

Michael Rippon swatted the first two deliveries of the final over for four to help relieve the pressure before getting out with victory in sight.

It was quite a game. Canterbury reached 270 thanks to a marvellous 104 from Chad Bowes.

Canterbury skipper Cole McConchie played a valuable support role with 42, and Cameron Fletcher blasted 47 not out from 37 deliveries.

He also helped smash 20 off the final over of Canterbury’s innings which almost proved the visiting side’s undoing.

‘‘We’ve got ourselves into that playoff and that is a huge step forward for this team,’’ Volts coach Rob Walter said.

Otago has had two lean years in all three formats. That fact coupled with four highprofile departures left many supporters with low expectations.

But Otago has defied it critics and is finding ways to win games it was losing last season.

‘‘Obviously, I’m incredibly proud of the fight the boys showed again.

‘‘Batting certainly got tougher when the balls got softer but we stuck in it.

‘‘They are positive signs that we’ve now won two really close games — one with the ball and one with the bat.’’

Duffy snaffled his second fivewicket bag this season and third in the format.

The 24yearold struck early, removing opener Jack Boyle before he could get going.

But Canterbury rallied. Bowes and McConchie put on 78 for the third wicket and got the home side into a very solid position.

Duffy brought himself back on and helped turn the match when he captured the wickets of Leo Carter (10) and Jeff Case (4).

But the big breakthrough came at the other end when Bowes topedged a sweep shot off the bowling of Rippon.

Bowes had not long brought up his fourth oneday century and left with his side wellplaced. But Duffy ran through the tail, picking up three more quick wickets.

Wilson anchored the chase with a superbly paced 126. He was overlooked at the start of the campaign. But with Hamish Rutherford unavailable and Shawn Hicks out of form, Wilson was brought it.

He made a golden duck in his last innings but responded with a

CANTERBURY

C Bowes c Lockrose b Rippon 104

2 31 42 10 4 47 6 1 6 2 15 270

Total (all out, 50 overs)

Fall: 1/15, 2/78, 3/156, 4/170, 5/190, 6/221, 7/230, 8/232, 9/248

Bowling: J Duffy 10 overs, 1 maiden, 35 runs, 6 wickets (2w); N Smith 102500 (1w, 1nb); M Bacon 40360; B Lockrose 60341; M Rippon 100562 (2w, 1nb); C Viljoen 30180 (1nb); A Kitchen 70350 (1w)

matchwinning innings.

‘‘We needed someone to step in and what better way to do it than with a hundred in his second knock [this season].

‘‘He has come in at a crucial time in the tournament and delivered for us.’’

In Lincoln, Auckland beat Northern Districts by 58 runs by the DuckworthLewisStern method. Colin Munro smashed 143 to help the Aces secure an important bonus point.

The Aces (21 points) are in third and enjoy a fivepoint buffer over the fourthplaced Northern Districts (16 points) with one round remaining.

Northern will need a bonuspoint win against Wellington and for Auckland to lose its last roundrobin game, which is against Otago, to have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs.

Wellington leads the competition with 27 points but suffered a setback. It was beaten by Central Districts by seven runs by the DuckworthLewisStern method.

Wellington appeared the have the chase in hand when the rain set in at Lincoln. But it was behind the par score at the time.

Otago opener Hamish Rutherford continues to impress this season. The 29yearold lefthander scored a century for New Zealand A in its fourday match with India A at Mt Maunganui.

He struck 17 fours and a six in his innings of 114. It was Rutherford’s fourth hundred in all formats this season.

New Zealand A declared at 458 for nine in reply to India A’s 467 for eight declared. At stumps on day three, India was 35 for none and leads by 44 runs.

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AOTAGO VOLTS