Phillips the ace in pack for Auckland
Forgotten Black Cap Glenn Phillips has offered a timely reminder of his big-hitting ability with a freakish knock of 156 from just 135 balls.
The Auckland batsman, who has become best known for his innovative batting stances, carted the Otago Volts bowlers to all corners of Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln during their Ford Trophy match yesterday.
Taking guard six inches outside leg stump, Phillips hit 16 fours and three massive sixes – including a huge switch hit, come reverse sweep, for six over third man.
Black Caps opener Martin Guptill, who combined for a 235-run second wicket partnership with Phillips, scored 117 from 130 balls but was forced to play a secondary role to the blazing Phillips.
The pair helped the Aces to a 97-run victory, with Otago being bowled out for 213 in 40.2 overs.
Phillips, who turns 23 next month, made his T20 debut for the Black Caps back in 2017 against South Africa.
At the time, he was rated the best long term prospect as a top-order wicketkeeper-batsman to replace Brendon McCullum in the Black Caps white ball set up.
Guptill’s opening partner Colin Munro, who scored a century on Monday, fell for 10 yesterday but the Aces were steadied by the partnership of Phillips and Guptill that fell two balls short of lasting 40 overs.
Former Black Cap Neil Broom (66) and Nathan Smith (43) were the only Otago batsman to make a mark on the Aces bowling as the run chase stuttered from the getgo with the southern men never looking likely to chase down their target as Auckland registered their third win in four rounds.
At Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch:
Auckland Aces 310-5 off 50 overs (Glenn Phillips 156, Martin Guptill 117; Nathan Smith 3-41, Jacob Duffy 2-57) b Otago Volts 213-10 in 40.2 overs (Neil Broom 66, Smith 43; Ben Lister 2-28 Will Somerville 2-57, Sean Solia 2-31) by 97 runs.
Canterbury remain at the top of the Ford Trophy table following a last-over one-run win nailbitter at Hagley Oval.
Batting first the home side was bowled out for 283 in 49 overs with a 99-run partnership between Cole McConchie (58) and Andrew Ellis (49) doing the bulk of the heavy lifting.
Ellis was run out and McConchie removed by Ish Sodhi just 14 runs later in the 41st over and that stalled the home side’s momentum.
In reply, Dean Brownlie (66) and Henry Cooper (45) made useful contributions but it was a brisk partnership of 43 from Anurag Verma and Sodhi that almost got the Knights home.
Verma, who scored 34 from 32 balls, was left stranded not out as McConchie held his nerve in the final over.
At Hagley Oval, Christchurch:
Canterbury 283 off 49 overs (Cole McConchie 58, Andrew Ellis 49, Stephen Murdoch 37; Scott Kuggeleijn 4-50, Anton Devcich 2-37, Brett Hampton 2-44) b Northern Districts 282-9 in 50 overs (Dean Brownlie 66, Henry Cooper 45, Anurag Verma 34; Ed Nuttall 3-69, Henry Shipley 2-47) by one run.
A near-perfect display of death bowling from Central’s Seth Rance helped the Stags to their first win of the Ford Trophy at Lincoln.
The former Black Caps pacer picked up three late wickets to end any chance the Wellington Firebirds had of chasing down Central’s total of 251.
Michael Bracewell (66) and Black Cap Jimmy Neesham (38) made useful dents in that target but it was Malcolm Nofal’s unbeaten 65 that gave Wellington hope.
But Rance ripped through the lower order to finish with four wickets to get the Stags off the bottom of the table.
Earlier, Tom Bruce top-scored for the Stags with 54 and George Worker made 47 before finishing off a tidy all-round effort with three wickets.
At Lincoln No 3, Christchurch:
Central Stags 251/8 off 50 overs (Tom Bruce 54, George Worker 47, Brad Schmulian 31; Jeetan Patel 2-40 Ben Sears 2-42, Ollie Newton 2-52; b Wellington Firebirds 222-10 from 46.2 overs (Michael Bracewell 66, Malcolm Nofal 65no, Jimmy Neesham 38; Seth Rance 4-33, Worker 3-36) by 29 runs.
Standings (after four games): Canterbury 16, Auckland 15, Wellington 8, Central 6, Northern 4, Otago 4.