Clarkson completes demolition job for Stags
All-rounder clubs 27 from seven balls as Volts falter
Boomfa. Justin Marshall was nowhere near the commentary box but his catchphrase seemed an appropriate description of the action at McLean Park on Thursday night.
Otago thought they had been clobbered hard for most of the Super Smash match. But then Central Districts all-rounder Josh Clarkson pummelled 27 from seven balls to help complete the onslaught under a stunning bloodred sky in Napier.
But it was a sanguine 93-run partnership from Dean Foxcroft and Tom Bruce which guided the home side through to a massive total of 208 for seven.
It could have been a lot worse for Otago . Nathan Smith took three wickets in the penultimate over. And the Stags lost four wickets in five balls at the death.
But that was a very minor achievement in the final wash. Otago put together a poor chase of 154 for eight — a heavy 54-run loss.
The Volts’ innings resembled a game of Whack-A-Mole. Someone would stick their head up and Central Districts would bring down the hammer.
Shawn Hicks was brilliantly caught at backward point for 20. Anaru Kitchen spooned a catch to Bruce without scoring.
Nathan Smith succumbed to the pressure after just four balls. Hamish Rutherford sliced a lofted drive on 18.
English professional Ben Raine was dropped on 10 but caught for 14. You get the picture.
Ben Wheeler did most of the damage with four for 26.
There was some quality batting in the first half though.
Will Young was quickly into his work. He dispatched Kitchen for a four and a six in the second over.
Raine got the treatment too. Young swivelled into a hook shot which sailed for six. The next bounced over the rope.
The Black Caps’ back-up test batsman was in wonderful touch but eventually clipped a ball all the way to Hicks on the boundary and was undone on 43 from 28 balls.
Foxcroft made up for some early hesitancy with 18 runs in five balls. The former South African under-19 representative can certainly bat and, with Bruce innovating at the other end, the score was starting to mount at a concerning rate.
Foxcroft brought up his 50 with a big six down the ground. He reached the milestone from 33 balls but was eventually undone on 56.
Bruce was well caught by Kitchen for 47 from 24. His departure triggered a collapse but there were too many runs in the bank.
Clarkson’s scintillating cameo of 4, 4, 6, 6, 1, 6 helped see to that.