Firebirds extend trophy lead

A world record over grabbed the spotlight in round five of the domestic one-day cricket competition yesterday.

The Northern Districts duo of Joe Carter and Brett Hampton – with the help of a couple of extras – took a phenomenal 43 runs off an over by Central Stags youngster Willem Ludick at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The Wellington Firebirds firmed as title favourites with their fourth win in five matches allowing them to extend their advantage at the top of the Ford Trophy while a number of unwanted Black Caps continued to make cases for international recalls.

Wellington v Auckland

Jimmy Neesham has made another big contribution to the winning ways of the Wellington Firebirds.

Neesham blasted 67 off only 46 balls as the hosts made 278 batting first at the Basin Reserve.

South African import Devon Conway, who top-scored for the hosts with 94, is highly regarded as a prospective New Zealand international after a stand-down period and again showed his class.

Auckland were never in the hunt as another South African pick-up, Malcolm Nofal took 3-28 as the Aces crumbled to be all out for 158 in the 42nd over.

Wellington 278 all out in 49.5 overs (D Conway 94, J Neesham

67, M Nofal 38; S Solia 3-37) beat Auckland 158 all out in 41.4 overs (W Somerville 50; M Nofal

3-28) by 120 runs.

Otago Volts v Canterbury

Hamish Rutherford’s excellent one-day season found extra impetus as he made a blistering century for the Otago Volts.

The former New Zealand opener made 154 from 141 balls as the hosts tallied 309-8 batting first against Canterbury at University Oval in Dunedin.

Opener Justin Boyle led Cantyerbury’s chase with 71 from 98 balls but the Volts picked up regular wickets to restrict Canterbury’s pursuit, despite Henry Shipley’s quick 46 at No 8.

Otago Volts 309-8 (H Rutherford 154, A Kitchen 53; H Shipley 4-60) beat Canterbury

247 all out in 47.4 overs (J Boyle

71, Shipley 46no; M Bacon 3-47) by 62 runs.

NDvCD

Northern Districts scored their first win of the season thanks to the remarkable effort from Brett Hampton and Joe Carter.

The duo put on 178 for the sixth wicket in 21 overs. That allowed the hosts to reach 313-7, with Carter 102 not out off 77 balls while Hampton made 95 off

66 deliveries.

Twenty year-old Dean Foxcroft, batting at four, made a classy century for the visitors in just his second outing for CD. The former South African under19 representative ended up unbeaten on 120 from 105 balls, but his side was always behind the asking rate as paceman Brett Randell nabbed 3-53.

Northern Districts 313-7 (J Carter 102no, B Hampton 95, A Devcich 50; D Bracewell 3-64) beat Central Stags 288-9 (D Foxcroft 120no, G Hay 46, J Clarkson 43; B Randell 3-53, D Mitchell 3-51) by 25 runs.