A ripper from Rippon for Volts

Otago Volts wrist-spinner Michael Rippon took the final five Central Stags wickets in the space of 14 deliveries yesterday as his side claimed just their second win in the Plunket Shield first-class competition.

The left-armer finished with 6-66 after bowling 16.3 overs on the trot at University of Otago Oval, claiming 5-2 in his final 2.2 overs as the Stags fell short of pulling off a final-day run chase.

The Volts began day four in Dunedin at 222-4, 262 runs ahead of the Stags, and proceeded to grow their lead to 332, with Nick Kelly finishing on 74 and Rippon making an unbeaten

43, after Hamish Rutherford had set the tone by making 111 on day three.

Stags seamer Blair Tickner took

3-64 before the Volts declared their innings closed at 292-7, leaving the visitors requiring 333 to win from a minimum of 78 overs.

They lost George Worker early, but fellow opener and captain Greg Hay got the Stags going with an innings of 58, before Brad Schmulian took over and made 64.

When Schmulian was dismissed the Stags were 181-4 after 48 overs, needing 152 more runs at just over five runs per over, with Tom Bruce leading the charge.

But while he finished unbeaten on

81, none of his team-mates could stick with him and the Stags ultimately slumped to a 44-run loss, Michael Rae taking 3-72, before Rippon took centre stage and finished things with 11.3 overs to play.

Competition winner Canterbury begin the final day of their match requiring 339 runs or to bat out at least

96 overs in order to avoid a loss to the Auckland Aces.

The hosts reached 317-3 in their second innings at Eden Park Outer Oval with captain Rob O’Donnell making an unbeaten 107 and Graeme Beghin contributing 83.

That left Canterbury with a target of 422 to win and by stumps they were

83-2.

No play was possible due to rain yesterday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington with Northern Districts playing the home side.