Early outright win for the Firebirds
Malcolm Nofal and Ben Sears helped the Wellington Firebirds cut through the Otago Volts’ batting lineup to set up an outright win inside three days – the first of this year’s Plunket Shield.
Nofal took 4-15 and Sears 3-63 as the Volts limped to 214 all out in their second innings, clinging on to a lead of 46 which the Firebirds chased down to win by eight wickets on yesterday at the Basin Reserve.
Rain delayed the start of play until after lunch and the Volts were looking all right as they moved to 114-3 in the second session, before losing their last seven wickets while adding just 105 runs.
Dean Foxcroft top scored with 54 and Nick Kelly made 40, but it took Jacob Duffy’s 46-ball 44 to help them avoid an innings loss.
The Firebirds lost Fraser Colson for a golden duck and Devon Conway for 19, but Rachin Ravindra was not out on 26 as they chased their target of 47 down in 11.1 overs.
Next up for the Firebirds is a visit from Canterbury, while the Volts return home to host the Auckland Aces.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Otago Volts 199 & 219 all out (Dean Foxcroft 54, Jacob Duffy 44, Nick Kelly 40; Malcolm Nofal 4-15, Ben Sears 3-63) lost to the Wellington Firebirds 372 & 50-2 by eight wickets.
Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell profited where their more-heralded teammates couldn’t at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, scoring hundreds to move Northern Districts two runs ahead of Canterbury.
Seifert made 119 after resuming on 85 yesterday when play started after lunch, while Mitchell was not out on 112 as Northern finished the day at 392-5, joined by Mitchell Santner who was on 54.
Dean Brownlie also made 54 to help Northern rebound after losing Black Caps Kane Williamson and BJ Watling cheaply on day two.
Canterbury’s bowling attack toiled hard with no luck, with the only wicket to fall – Brownlie’s – coming via a run out and the prospect of a result now appears unlikely.
At Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Canterbury 390 met Northern Districts 392-5 (Tim Seifert 119, Daryl Mitchell 112no, Mitchell Santner 54no, Dean Brownlie 54).
The Auckland Aces hold all the cards at Eden Park Outer Oval, having opened up a 175-run lead over the Central Stags on a pitch that has become increasingly difficult to bat on heading into the final day.
They had scraped their way to 134-7 off 63 overs in their second innings at stumps yesterday, after morning rain meant play didn’t get under way until early afternoon.
The Stags resumed on 144-8 in their first innings and added 25 more runs for the loss of their final two wickets, with Matt McEwan claiming one of them to finish with 4-51.
Brad Schmulian finished not out on 74, which looks likely to end up as the highest score of the match.
Ben Horne was not out on 39 off 117 balls, whole Mark Chapman took 103 balls for his 31. Will Somerville was the other not out batsman, on 16 off 62.
Seth Rance had 3-30 for the Stags, while Willem Ludick had 2-29.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland: Auckland Aces 210 & 134-7 (Ben Horne 39no, Mark Chapman 31no) met the Central Stags 169 all out (Brad Schmulian 74no; Matt McEwan 4-51).