Unsung heroes spur Firebirds

The Wellington Firebirds’ Ford Trophy win produced some unlikely heroes.

Chasing 235 to beat the Otago Volts at University Oval in Dunedin on Saturday, they found themselves in trouble at 75-5 with one ball to come in the 17th over.

Walking to the crease was Peter Younghusband, a man with 146 career oneday runs; set to come in next was Lauchie Johns, a man with with 85 career one-day runs; after him, Ollie Newton, a man with

118 carer one-day runs; then Ian McPeake, with 55, and captain Hamish Bennett, with

99.

Having been 57-7 at a similar stage in their innings, the Volts could suddenly sniff a win, but it wasn’t to be, as the Firebirds’ tail stood up when needed the most and got the job done.

Established batsman Malcolm Nofal was at one end, but he didn’t put all the weight on his own shoulders, as Jimmy Neesham did on Wednesday in the elimination final. He trusted those around him and they repaid that trust in spades.

Younghusband made 49, trapped in front one run short of a half-century, sharing in an 118-run stand with Nofal for the sixth wicket that got the Firebirds within sight of their target.

Johns finished unbeaten on 24, one shy of his highest one-day score, taking over when Nofal departed for 73, offering a simple catch to mid off with the Firebirds needing 23 more runs off 22 balls. That was when Newton came in and made seven, hitting the winning runs.

‘‘It was tough,’’ Younghusband said. ‘‘I haven’t scored a lot of runs and that was a hell of a time to get some, to be honest.’’