Bracewell helps Firebirds edge closer to title
In 80 previous first-class cricket matches, Michael Bracewell had four wickets to his name at an average of 60.
Wellington’s captain made that figure plummet, and helped move his side closer to their first Plunket Shield title in 16 years with a maiden five-wicket haul in their innings and seven run victory over Auckland yesterday.
On a parched Colin Maiden Park which saw spin dominate both second innings, Bracewell snaffled a sharp caught and bowled to remove Jamie Brown and end with figures of 5-43 off 29.4 overs to skittle the hosts for 174 on day four.
Victory in the top-of-the-table clash was the Firebirds’ fourth from six matches and moved them to 83 points, 26 clear of Central Stags with two rounds remaining and within sight of their first first-class title since 2004.
After Rachin Ravindra (101) notched his maiden first-class century and run machine Devon Conway chimed in with 94, Wellington built a first innings lead of 181 then went about closing out victory.
When day four resumed the Aces were in a hopeless spot, eight down, after Logan van Beek (3-19) scythed through the top order and young Finn Allen topscored with 66.
Louis Delport, who took four wickets for Auckland with his spin, hit 53 not out but Bracewell was tough to hold out with fielders clustering around the bat and the ball turning and bouncing.
In Dunedin, a superb unbeaten 95 from Michael Rippon saw the Volts sneak home by three wickets over the Stags whose title aspirations took another hit.
A rain-delayed match went the full distance as the hosts chased down their target of 288 with one of their 76 overs to spare.
After Will Young hit his eighth first-class century, an
At Colin Maiden Park, Auckland: Auckland Aces 179 and 174 (Finn Allen 66, Louis Delport 53; Michael Bracewell 5-43, Logan van Beek 3-19) lost to
by an innings and unbeaten 133 off 118 balls, Stags skipper Greg Hay declared on 256-2 to leave the Volts a generous target at a required rate of just 3.79 per over.
At 180-6 in the 56th over the Stags were in the game but Rippon and Dale Phillips (30) added 84 for the seventh wicket, before Rippon coolly saw it home in his 111-ball knock including 12 fours and two sixes.
Stags spinner Ajaz Patel (3-97) took seven for the match but it wasn’t quite enough to turn it his side’s way.
In Hamilton, bottom-placed Northern Districts notched their first win of the season and spin played a big part there, too.
Offspinner Joe Walker, on his home ground, snared 5-41 to dismiss Canterbury for 172 and complete victory by 181 runs.
It was Walker’s third fivewicket haul of his 27-match career, which included Canterbury topscorer Stephen Murdoch for 55 and the final two wickets of Fraser Sheat and Ed Nuttall to wrap up victory.
Black Caps test frontliner Neil Wagner took 3-77 while seamer James Baker (2-37) joined teammate Walker in taking seven for the match.
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