Otago Daily Times

NZ Open a Covid casualty

- ADRIAN SECONI

TIM Southee and Neil Wagner have destroyed some topclass batting lineups in their time.

The Black Caps test duo have nearly 500 test wickets between them and teamed up again yesterday.

But this time it was for Northern Districts to rout a struggling Otago side at Bay Oval.

Southee took five for 42 and Wagner four for 69 to help dismiss the Volts for 179.

Northern Districts was 119 for one in reply at stumps on day two.

Henry Cooper is 58 not out and firstinnin­gs centurion Joe Carter is unbeaten on 37.

A feature of the Otago scorecard was another failure by the top order.

Last week the Volts were bowled out for 54 and the side’s leading batsmen let redemption fall well out of reach.

Anaru Kitchen perished first ball of the innings.

Southee swung in a delivery and trapped him in front.

Mitch Renwick (12) and Camden Hawkins (11) broke through a barrier of sorts by reaching double figures before they were removed.

The terrible start was compounded when star batsman Hamish Rutherford nicked out for four.

Nick Kelly (23) and Nathan Smith (27) staged a mini revival before joining the long list of victims Wagner has accounted for.

Michael Rippon was one of a few players to emerge with his reputation intact following the humbling innings loss to Auckland last week.

He counterpun­ched with his maiden firstclass century.

The South Africanbor­n allrounder once again provided the most resistance.

His knock of 44 and Max Chu’s 28run cameo provided a modicum of respectabi­lity.

Scott Kuggeleijn picked up the last wicket but otherwise it was the Southee and Wagner show.

Northern will resume this morning with a lead of 275 with nine wickets in hand.

The most notable story to emerge from yesterday however was Kyle Jamieson’s hat trick at Eden Park Outer Oval.

The Black Cap and Auckland seamer claimed what was only the seventh firstclass hat trick for Auckland.

He used bounce and swing to account for Central Districts players Tom Bruce, Dane

Cleaver and Brad Schmulian.

His finished with a fivewicket bag to help dismiss the Stags for 150 and secure his side a slim 17run first innings lead.

‘‘We had so much time off you’re always putting in work to improve your skill set,’’ Jamieson told TVNZ last week.

‘‘It is something that I am always looking to push the envelope a little bit . . .

‘‘From my point of view, it’s a combinatio­n of your action and rhythm and your S&C [strength and conditioni­ng] work and trying to put that all together.’’

The Aces had reached 198 for five by stumps — an overall lead of 215.

At Hagley Oval, Canterbury’s Leo Carter and Daryl Mitchell put on a 117run stand for the fifthwicke­t to help their side reach 315 for five.

Mitchell is unbeaten on 81 and his side had a healthy 200run lead, having dismissed Wellington for a paltry 115 on day one.

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 ??  ?? Neil Wagner
Neil Wagner
 ??  ?? Tim Southee
Tim Southee

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