Volts beat Firebirds
An inspired spell from Christi Viljoen has seen Otago snatch an unlikely T20 Super Smash victory against Wellington.
Unlikely because at 107-0 in the 11th over, the Firebirds looked oddson to chase down the Volts’ total of 167-7 with relative ease at the Basin Reserve in the capital yesterday.
But Namibian international Viljoen had other ideas, taking 4-23 from his four overs to lead his side to a one-run win.
He started by removing a flying Michael Bracewell for 60 off 29 balls with his third ball of the match in the 11th over.
The wicket seemed to spark panic among the Wellington batsmen as they lost four wickets for six runs in the space of 12 balls.
One who did panic was Bracewell’s fellow opener, Devon Conway, who had been keeping the score ticking along nicely at the other end before he ran himself out going for a quick two in the 12th over after scoring 47 off 37 balls.
Viljoen picked up another wicket in his second over, before getting two more in his third, including the prized scalp of Jimmy Neesham caught behind.
Luke Woodcock and Ollie Newton got the equation down to 18 runs off the final two overs before Newton lost his off stump.
It got down to the final ball with Wellington needing three to win, but Woodcock was easily run out going for two.
Earlier, Neesham had celebrated his recall to the New Zealand one-day international team by taking 4-24 from his four overs.
Neil Broom had got Otago’s innings off to a good start with 34 off 27 balls.
He was joined by Anaru Kitchen (52 off 34) and the pair put on 53 before Broom became Neesham’s first victim of the day in the ninth over.
Kitchen and Shawn Hicks (22 off 20) had things ticking along well before they both were caught out in the 15th over to the bowling of Neesham with the score on 123.
In the women’s match, Katey Martin sparked Otago to a 19-run win over the table-topping Wellington Blaze with a superb innings of 64 off 46.
Her side’s next top-scorer was Millie Cowan on 28, but Polly Inglis (22 off 15) provided good support as her skipper blazed away at the other end, setting up a total of 150-8.
Wellington’s bowling effort was led the competition’s leading wickettaker Amelia Kerr, who took 4-21 from her four overs.
Wellington’s chase started well with openers Rebecca Burns (21 off 16) and Lucy Doolan (27 off 31) both getting starts.
Blaze captain Liz Perry scored 31 off 26, but after she fell in the 12th over with her side still needing 73 runs the task was too tough for Wellington’s lower order.
Leigh Kasperek took 3-36 from her four overs, but it was the restrictive bowling of Kate Heffernan (0-19 from four), Emma Black (1-21 from four) and Eden Carson (2-26 from four) – going at fewer than 6.5 runs per over from their 12 combined overs – which were crucial in the win.
Otago Volts 167-7
Wellington Firebirds 166-9
Otago Sparks 150-8