Firebirds continue to set torrid pace

The Wellington Firebirds firmed as title favourites with their fourth win in five matches allowing them to extend their advantage at the top of the Ford Trophy while a number of unwanted Black Caps continued to make cases for international recalls.

Wellington v Auckland

Jimmy Neesham has made another big contribution to the winning ways of the Wellington Firebirds. Neesham blasted 67 off only 46 balls as the hosts made 278 batting first at the Basin Reserve.

Injuries and form woes have kept Neesham out of the Black Caps of late but an off-season shift from Otago to the capital has brought immediate results for the allrounder. The 28-year-old has made 245 runs at an average of 61.25 and a strike-rate of 126.28 in five appearances this spring.

South African import Devon Conway, who top-scored for the hosts with 94, is highly regarded as a prospective New Zealand international after a stand-down period and again showed his class.

There was a first failure this season for inform rookie Firebirds opener Andrew Fletcher, who made 10 before being dismissed by a cracking delivery from Danru Ferns.

Auckland were never in the hunt as another South African pick-up, Malcolm Nofal, took 3-28 as the Aces crumbled to be all out for 158 in the 42nd over.

Wellington 278 all out in 49.5 overs (D Conway 94, J Neesham 67, M Nofal 38; S Solia 3-37) beat Auckland 158 all out in 41.4 overs (W Somerville 50; M Nofal 3-28) by 120 runs.

NDvCD

Northern Districts scored their first win of the season thanks to the remarkable world record efforts of Brett Hampton and Joe Carter.

The duo put on 178 for the sixth wicket in 21 overs – a Northern Districts record for the sixth wicket against Central Districts. That allowed the hosts to reach 313-7, with Carter 102 not out off 77 balls while Hampton made 95 off 66 deliveries.

Twenty-year-old Dean Foxcroft, batting at four, made a classy century for the visitors in just his second outing for CD. The former South African under-19 representative ended up unbeaten on 120 from 105 balls, with four sixes and eight fours,but his side was always behind the asking rate as paceman Brett Randell nabbed 3-53.

Northern Districts 313-7 (J Carter 102no, B Hampton 95, A Devcich 50; D Bracewell 3-64) beat Central Stags 288-9 (D Foxcroft 120no, G Hay 46, J Clarkson 43; B Randell 3-53, D Mitchell 3-51) by 25 runs.

Otago Volts v Canterbury

Hamish Rutherford’s excellent one-day season found extra impetus as he made a blistering century for the Otago Volts.

The former New Zealand opener made 154 from 141 balls as the hosts tallied 309-8 batting first against Canterbury at University Oval in Dunedin.

Another unwanted Black Cap, all-rounder Anaru Kitchen, helped the Volts to a big total as he hit six fours and a six in compiling 53 off 47 balls at No 5.

Justin Boyle led Canterbury’s chase with 71 from 98 balls but the Volts picked up regular wickets to restrict Canterbury’s pursuit, despite Henry Shipley’s quick 46 at No 8.

Otago Volts 309-8 (H Rutherford 154, A Kitchen 53; H Shipley 4-60) beat Canterbury 247 all out in 47.4 overs (J Boyle 71, Shipley 46no; M Bacon 3-47) by 62 runs.