Mitre 10 Cup It’s finals time
Keep going like this and South African-born Devon Conway could be a Black Cap as early as 2020.
The Wellington top order batsman picked up where he finished off last summer, hitting 203 not out as the Firebirds continued their dominance over Otago on day two of their Plunket Shield match yesterday.
Wellington declared after posting a formidable 509-5 at the Basin Reserve and had Otago in all sorts of bother at 114-5 by stumps.
It was Conway’s day, kicking on after being 131 at the start of the day’s play, and bringing up his double hundred with a boundary off quick Nathan Smith, just before skipper Michael Bracewell called his batsmen in.
He hit 26 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten knock that will have caught the eye of New Zealand Cricket talent spotters.
Conway, 27, arrived in the capital in September, 2017, with a dream of following in the footsteps of fellow South-African born cricketers like Grant Elliott, Neil Wagner and Kruger van Wyk, who emigrated to New Zealand and eventually cracked the Black Caps.
The left-hander, who is also a competent wicketkeeper, is officially a ‘qualifying player’ which allowed him to be contracted by the Firebirds. He is eligible to represent the Black Caps as a New Zealand resident after three years in the country in September 2020, but won’t be getting ahead of himself and will be determined to keep churning out the runs.
Wellington’s declaration meant Conway narrowly missed out on surpassing his highest first-class score of 205 not out.
Conway is one of 13 South African bornand-raised players on New Zealand Cricket’s payroll for the summer, headed by Black Caps Wagner, BJ Watling and Colin Munro.
Another South African-raised Firebird Malcolm Nofal was also in the runs, bringing up his second first-class century. Nofal got through to 110 before being bowled by Matt Bacon.
Black Caps allrounder Colin de Grandhomme hit form with the bat at the best possible time.
Just days before departing for the United Arab Emirates for New Zealand’s tour against Pakistan, the hard-hitting de Grandhomme struck 115 from 135 balls as Northern Districts gained the ascendancy against Canterbury on day two.
Playing just his second first-class match for ND after moving south after 12 seasons with Auckland, de Grandhomme frustrated the Canterbury attack, who had them 227-6 when Peter Bocock fell.
He whacked 16 fours and two sixes in his innings, finally skying one to New Zealand team-mate Matt Henry.
Hagley Oval is fast becoming Black Caps legspinner Ish Sodhi’s favourite batting wicket in the country.
After saving the second test against England there in April with 56 not out to help New Zealand win the series 1-0, Sodhi hit another half century.
Sodhi reached 50 before a quick reaction from Black Caps team-mate Tom Latham, who scampered around from first slip to take the catch, sent him on his way.
The sight of a healthy Adam Milne steaming in and taking wickets is a positive one for New Zealand Cricket.
Milne, who has endured a tough run with injuries in past summers, shone with 3-30 to put Central Districts in the driver’s seat against Auckland.
It was an encouraging showing from Milne, who is in New Zealand’s Twenty20 side to face Pakistan in the UAE later this month. If he can perform well there, he could be in the reckoning for one of the two spots left to fill in the Black Caps’ ODI squad against Pakistan.
Seth Rance, also in New Zealand’s T20 team, nabbed a three-for too as Auckland were skittled for 184 in response to CD’s first innings total of 360.
The Stags were 54-3 in their second innings at the close of play, giving them a decent lead of 230 runs.
At a glance
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Wellington 509-5 dec (Devon Conway 203no, Malcolm Nofal 110, Michael Bracewell 87; Nathan Smith 2-91) met Otago 114-5 (Shawn Hicks 34no, Josh Finnie 33; Hamish Bennett 3-43). At Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Northern Districts 378 (Colin de Grandhomme 115, Dean Brownlie 77, Ish Sodhi 50, Daryl Mitchell 48; Cole McConchie 2-41, Will Williams 2-60) met Canterbury 83-2 (Henry Nicholls 36no; James Baker 2-19). At Eden Park outer oval, Auckland: Central Districts 360 (Dane Cleaver 117, Brad Schmulian 50, Willem Ludick 50; Matt McEwan 3-65, Raja Sandhu 2-59) and 54-3 met Auckland 184 (Rob O’Donnell 36; Adam Milne 3-30, Seth Rance 3-41).