Conway scores big century for Wellington
Devon Conway batted the Wellington Firebirds into a dominant position on day one of their Plunket Shield clash with the Otago Volts, finishing unbeaten on 131 as his side posted 348-4.
Conway shared in an 188-run stand for the fourth wicket with Michael Bracewell, who made 87 before he was caught behind by Mitch Renwick off the bowling of spinner Michael Rippon.
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham then came and went for 17. Malcolm Nofal joined Conway at the crease and finished not out on 60, as they put on 105 runs together.
Conway and Nofal are both from South Africa, but have moved to New Zealand to pursue their dreams of becoming international cricketers.
Seamer Nathan Smith was the pick of the Volts’ bowlers, finishing the day with 2-56 from 18 overs. His scalps were the two Firebirds openers, Andrew Fletcher and Luke Woodcock, who made 16 and 3. Jacob Duffy claimed Neesham’s wicket on a day at the Basin Reserve where it was hard going for the bowlers.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Firebirds 348-4 (Devon Conway 131no, Michael Bracewell 87, Malcolm Nofal 60no) met the Otago Volts.
At Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland, wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver scored his fourth firstclass century to help the Central Stags to 359-9 against the Auckland Aces.
Cleaver also scored his 2000th first-class run as he made 117 off
174 balls before charging Matt McEwan and being caught in the deep.
Brad Schmulian and Willem Ludick both made 50, with the latter combining with Cleaver in a
120-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Cleaver fell with the Stags at
314-6, ending a 75-run partnership with Christian Leopard, who departed two balls later.
The Stags made their way shakily to stumps, with Adam Milne unbeaten on 28 and Felix Murray yet to score after facing 13 balls.
The wickets were shared around for the Aces, with McEwan, Danru Ferns, Raja Sandhu and William Somerville all claiming two, and Sean Solia getting the other.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland: Central Stags 359-9 (Dane Cleaver 117, Brad Schmulian 50, Willem Ludick 50) met the Auckland Aces.
Play didn’t start until 1.45pm at Hagley Oval in Christchurch due to bad weather, and only 15 balls were bowled before Canterbury and Northern Districts were forced from the field as rain arrived again.
Northern had been sent in after losing the toss and their openers didn’t last long once play restarted, both falling to Fraser Sheat.
Henry Cooper was caught behind on 13, while Daniel Flynn was bowled for six, failing to notice that the ball was rolling towards his stumps after being hit on his pad.
Dean Brownlie and Daryl Mitchell then came together for an important 124-run stand, before the former edged a rising ball from Andrew Hazeldine to the slips shortly before stumps, having made 77.
Mitchell was unbeaten on 39 with Bharat Popli alongside him on 8, as they sat on 141-3.
At Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Northern Districts 141-3 (Dean Brownlie 77) met Canterbury.