Bowlers rule the roost in Plunket Shield
Bowlers ruled the roost as the fourth round of the Plunket Shield began yesterday, with 37 wickets falling around New Zealand.
The worst damage was done at Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland, where Northern Districts were dismissed for 134 after being sent in by the Aces.
Seamers Danru Ferns and Matt McEwan led the way, taking 4-33 and 3-33 respectively as Northern crumbled from 96-4 at lunch to 134 all out, losing their last six wickets for the addition of just 38 runs.
Will Somerville was also in the wickets, less than a week after playing his part in the Black Caps’ historic series win over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, finishing with 2-21.
Opener Daniel Flynn (32), Joe Carter (23), and Nick Kelly (31) were the only batsmen to show any fight for Northern.
The Aces were in front by stumps at 142-3 on the back of a strong innings from opener Sean Solia, who made 71 before he was bowled by James Baker on the final ball of the day, one shy of his highest first-class score. Rob O’Donnell was not out on 28.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland: Northern Districts 134 (Daniel Flynn 32; Danru Ferns 4-33, Matt McEwan 3-33) met Auckland Aces 142-3 (Sean Solia 71).
The Central Stags didn’t fare much better than Northern at Saxton Oval in Nelson, where they are looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Plunket Shield to 21 games.
Wellington Firebirds seamer Hamish Bennett had other ideas, taking 5-39 after his side won the toss to reduce the Stags to 158 all out.
Brad Schmulian offered the most resistance, making his way to 49 before falling lbw to Ian McPeake.
No other Stag passed 30 in an innings that featured two early wicket maidens, by Bennett and Ollie Newton, that left them 0-2.
The Firebirds were 54-0 at stumps, still trailing by 104, with Rachin Ravindra on 28 and Luke Woodcock on 24.
At Saxton Oval, Nelson: Central Stags 158 (Brad Schmulian 49; Hamish Bennett 5-39) met Wellington Firebirds 54-0.
Canterbury seamers Andrew Hazeldine and Kyle Jamieson had a day to remember in Dunedin, taking 9-72 between them as the Otago Volts were dismissed for 206 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Hazeldine finished with 5-33, his best first-class figures and first five-wicket bag, while Jamieson took 4-39, and Henry Shipley claimed the spare.
Opener Hamish Rutherford was the Volts’ best performer, making 45.
At 98-1 shortly before lunch, the Volts were having a good day, only to lose 108-9, starting when Hazeldine had Josh TasmanJones caught at short leg for 25, his first wicket of the day.
Canterbury couldn’t capitalise on their seamers’ good work to the extent they would have wanted, sitting precariously on 98-4 at stumps, with Leo Carter not out on 20 and Cam Fletcher on 11.
Chad Bowes made 34 off 38 balls opening before falling to Christi Viljoen, who finished the day with 2-18.
At University of Otago Oval, Dunedin: Otago Volts 206 (Hamish Rutherford 45; Andrew Hazeldine 5-33, Kyle Jamieson 4-39) met Canterbury 98-4 (Chad Bowes 34; Christi Viljoen 2-18).