Van Beek inspires Firebirds

As he holidayed in the Greek islands, Logan van Beek took a bit of convincing from Wellington cricket coach Bruce Edgar to move north from Canterbury.

But as the Firebirds belted out their team song at Hamilton’s Seddon Park yesterday there was only a brief glance behind, after van Beek snared a career-best 10-117 to lead his new team to their third straight maximum point victory in the Plunket Shield.

‘‘I was saying to Bruce before; I was first talking to him when I was in Greece and I was a bit apprehensive about moving. I wasn’t too sure but I was excited,’’ van Beek said.

‘‘And to get to this position now with three good wins from three and a bit of personal success is nice. It just feels good that I’ve taken the opportunity.’’

Now the 27-year-old allrounder, who still harbours Black Caps aspirations, is becoming known in Wellington for a lot more than being an eight-time Netherlands Twenty20 international, grandson of dual West Indies-New Zealand test player Sammy Guillen and a former world under-19 basketballer.

With his classical bowling action, sharpish pace and nagging line outside off stump, van Beek exploited some variable bounce to finish the job against Northern Districts on the fourth morning.

The hosts - now bottom of the ladder after three rounds - lost their last five wickets for 31 as van Beek ended with 6-57 off 14.3 overs. It was his fourth fivewicket bag and best innings return, as Wellington won by 82 runs. His final victim, former Wellington bowling coach Brent Arnel lbw, sparked celebrations that looked set to stretch into the evening.

‘‘It’s a combination of the body being healthy and having a bit of confidence. I haven’t thought of myself as being express pace but I know I can bowl a heavy ball and the consistency is there,’’ van Beek said.

‘‘The pitch was a bit up and down at times and it’s a matter of putting it in the right area with a bit behind it. That was the key.’’

It’s difficult to recall a better

Wellington start to a season: three outright victories with the maximum eight batting and bowling points from each.

Wellington’s most recent firstclass title was in 2004; now they have 60 competition points, 15 ahead of Central Stags who hammered Canterbury by an innings and 86 runs to open up a 20-point gap over the rest.

Van Beek and new captain Michael Bracewell (from Otago) were Edgar’s key off-season recruits, after Hamish Bennett and Hamish Marshall were the star signings in the Twenty20 title last season. Bennett, also lured from Canterbury, was in van Beek’s ear over the offseason and the duo are now second and third on the wickettaking charts behind Auckland’s Lockie Ferguson.

‘‘It’s fantastic. Everyone is comfortable and knows their role in the team and everyone wants to fulfil that for each other. It’s been a real team effort,’’ van Beek said, as he prepares for his former team including Black Caps Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Matt Henry and Todd Astle at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.