Firebirds destroyed by Sodhi
Wellington have the Plunket Shield wobbles. Chasing their first four-day title since 2003-04, the Firebirds were thrashed by an innings and 56 runs against Northern Districts inside two days on Monday.
Wellington’s penultimate round crushing means the Plunket Shield title race will go down until the final round of the season with Central Districts in hot pursuit.
Unwanted Black Caps test legspinner Ish Sodhi starred for ND at the Basin Reserve with figures of 12-62 for the match.
Sodhi has taken 19 wickets in his past two Shield matches at an impressive average of just 8.4.
It was the second time Sodhi has taken 10 wickets in a firstclass match.
Wellington failed to fire with the bat for the second time in the match after posting 137 in the first innings.
They were rolled for 130 in their second innings with Sodhi following up his seven-for from the first innings with 5-32.
Openers Michael Papps (39) and Luke Woodcock (22) were the only Firebirds’ batsmen to get past 20 in their second dig as ND dismissed them in just 49.1 overs.
Wicketkeeper Tim Seifert brought up his fourth first-class ton for ND earlier in the day, hitting 124 in their total of 323.
The Central Stags are doing their bit to keep the battle for the Plunket Shield going right to the end.
Second placed Central are on track for an innings rout over Canterbury after a dominant second day in Napier.
After declaring at 360-7, Central ripped through the Canterbury batting order, dismissing them for a paltry 97 inside 39.4 overs.
It was the second time in four matches, Canterbury have been dismissed for less than 100 in an innings after being skittled for 53 against Wellington earlier this month.
Right-arm seamer Blair Tickner’s standout summer in all forms continued, capturing his first five wicket bag in firstclass cricket.
Tickner finished with 5-23 from nine overs.
Seth Rance chimed in with 3-19, while left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was on a hat-trick after removing Cole McConchie and Ken McClure in successive deliveries.
Theo van Woerkom survived
the potential hat-trick ball.
Canterbury were 58-2 at stumps, still needing a further 205 runs to make CD bat again.
The Otago Volts finally have something to smile about.
Otago hadn’t won in the Plunket Shield since the opening round of the season, but thumped Auckland by an innings and 37 runs in Dunedin.
They were superb with the ball, removing Auckland for 134 in both innings.
Quick Jacob Duffy led the way in the second innings, snaring 5-39, while Matt Bacon, in just his fourth first-class match, picked up 3-21.
After batting just 44.5 overs in the first innings, Auckland lasted 41 in the second innings, to cap off a forgettable outing.
Black Caps limited overs batsman Mark Chapman was the lone batsman to get a decent start in the second innings, notching 41.