Wellington complete innings victory
In two innings, Auckland just managed to outscore Michael Papps but fell to a massive loss in the process.
Wellington wrapped up a huge Plunket Shield win yesterday, dismissing Auckland for 286 in their second innings and securing a victory by an innings and 205 runs.
Auckland had crumbled for only 62 on the opening morning, before watching Firebirds opener Papps make things look easy with a Wellington record 316 not out.
In the end, Auckland scored 348 runs for the match, just edging Papps’ personal total, but coming nowhere near the level Wellington produced over three days at the Basin Reserve.
‘‘The constant bringing up of Wellington and New Zealand records, one after the other, I’ve never seen anything quite like it,’’ Wellington coach Bruce Edgar said at the close of play.
‘‘It just went on and on. You couldn’t ask for a better performance to start the season.’’
Auckland started the third day on 73-1, with Jeet Raval looking the key man to keeping any hopes alive of rescuing a draw.
They would have needed to bat for the better part of two full days in to do so, quite the turnaround after their first effort in the middle.
Raval impressed with his temperament, bringing up his first 50 of the season from 145 balls, in just over three hours out in the middle. But by lunch two more wickets had fallen, and by the time the new ball was taken, Auckland had fallen to 227-5.
Mark Chapman brought up a fighting 50 of his own as Wellington slowly but surely chipped their way through the Auckland lineup.
When probing line and length didn’t work, Wellington shifted to a more aggressive approach, with Ian McPeake in particular bowling hard into the body.
It worked. Auckland were unable to handle the constant pressure coming their way.
McPeake ended with 3-51 from his 17 overs in the second innings, with Hamish Bennett claiming 2-31 and Luke Woodcock cleaning up the tail with 2-17 from 3.3.
Edgar was full of praise for his bowlers in a match dominated by Wellington’s batsmen.
‘‘We worked on our gameplan. The ball was doing a bit if you found the right areas, but if that didn’t work, we knew when to move to our plan B, and that worked well.
‘‘I thought that was the real difference. They had Lockie Ferguson who bowled some really sharp spells, and our guys had to fight through that, but all four of our quicks were superb.’’
As for the batsmen, and Papps and Woodcock in particular, Edgar said their experience shone through.
When times were tough, with Ferguson bowling some serious heat which had the opening duo in survival mode, they found a way through and cashed in once he was removed from the attack.
Papps and Woodcock went past Edgar and Andrew Jones’ previous opening partnership record when they surpassed 333 on Tuesday, and Edgar said he was quick to be told of that fact.
‘‘I was reminded about it, yes,’’ Edgar said.
‘‘I just told them it took a long time for that record to be broken, and I’m delighted they did it with an innings like that.’’
Meanwhile, Central Districts batsman Brad Schmulian broke a record held since the late 19th century with his double ton against Northern Districts, but their match is heading for a draw ahead of the final day.
Schmulian registered the highest ever score on debut in firstclass cricket in New Zealand with 203 - passing the previous record of 175 set in the 1880/81 season.
The Hawke’s Bay batsman came to the crease at No 5 on day three with CD in trouble on 59-4 in their first innings in reply to ND’s 439-5 declared at Mt Maunganui.
But he motored to a century from 105 balls and was eventually out for 203 when he was caught and bowled by ND spinner Anton Devcich with CD 309-6 - trailing by 130 runs.
The former Auckland A and agegroup representative was ably assisted by Doug Bracewell, who was unbeaten on 60 when Schmulian passed 200.
CD declared on 313-7 - still trailing by 126 - with day one having been lost due to rain and ND finished the third day leading by 143 runs.
In Christchurch, Otago are on the verge of beating Canterbury after a dominant opening partnership between Hamish Rutherford and Brad Wilson on day three.
Rutherford (90) and Wilson (63) made 162 for the first wicket and Otago finished on 192-2 - just 47 runs shy of their victory target ahead of the final day.