Sodhi stars again as Northern thrash Firebirds
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 first-class 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.
At Basin Reserve, Wellington: Wellington 137 and 130
(Michael Papps 39; Ish Sodhi 5-32) lost to Northern Districts 323
(Tim Seifert 124, Corey Anderson
61, Henry Cooper 32; Jeetan Patel
5-85, Iain McPeake 3-59) by an innings and 56 runs.
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.
They started the penultimate round 12 points behind Wellington, but are fast reeling them in.
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 first-class 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.
At McLean Park, Napier: (Day two): Central Districts 360-7 decl (Tom Bruce 78 no, Will Young
74, Greg Hay 70; Theo van Woerkom 3-122) met Canterbury
97 (Michael Davidson 25; Blair Tickner 5-23, Seth Rance 3-19) and
58-2.
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.
At University Oval, Dunedin: Otago 305 beat Auckland 134
(Matt McEwan 39; Michael Rae
3-24, Michael Rippon 3-28) and 134
(Mark Chapman 41; Jacob Duffy
5-39, Matt Bacon 3-21) by an innings and 37 runs.