Otago walloped by dominant Wellington

OTAGO’S frail batting lineup performed so poorly it is a surprise no wickets fell during the tea break.

Actually, it is a surprise the team got as far as the tea break.

Wellington routed the Volts yesterday to win by an innings and 101 runs with a day to spare.

The home side dominated proceedings at the Basin Reserve for all but the opening hour.

Otago nicked out a couple early on but Devon Conway posted an unbeaten 203 and Malcolm Nofal blasted 110 to help Wellington post 509 for five declared. The Volts had slumped to 114 for five in reply at stumps on Thursday.

They resumed yesterday morning with a colossal challenge ahead to avoid an innings defeat but folded meekly, losing 15 wickets in the day.

Otago’s best partnership of the match came at the end of the first innings when Michael Rippon (47) and Warren Barnes (24 not out) added 58 out of a total of 190.

Wellington enforced the followon and the Volts were quickly in trouble again as the top order disintegrated.

Brad Wilson lost track of where his leg stump was and was bowled for eight. Josh TasmanJones edged a regulation catch to first slip before he had opened his account.

Shawn Hicks (5) got a nick as well and Hamish Rutherford was trapped lbw for 14.

It was hard to keep up.

Mitch Renwick briefly offered hope with 46.

But he will be grumpy to have played the shot he did to get out.

Rippon topscored in the first innings and resisted again with 57 not out in the second innings.

It made little difference, though, and Otago was bundled out for 218.

Hamish Bennett nabbed six wickets in the game and was the standout bowler. But Conway was the star with his doublecentury to set up the win.

Auckland joins Otago towards the bottom of the standings following a heavy defeat by Central Districts at Eden Park outer oval.

Auckland was left chasing 351 for victory after dismissing Central cheaply in its second innings.

But Doug Bracewell (three for 33), Seth Rance (two for 49) and Ryan McCone (two for 45) got the business done.

Jeet Raval topscored for Auckland with 57 and 19yearold Finn Allen made 53. Aces keeper Ben Horne set a record for the most catches in a firstclass game for Auckland with nine.

At Hagley Oval, Northern Districts is 204 for five in its second innings. It leads Canterbury by 354 runs.

Ish Sodhi took three for 48 for Northern to help dismiss Canterbury for a modest 228.

Otago’s next assignment is a onedayer against Central Districts in Nelson.

The Volts will welcome back Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen for the tournament. The pair will add some muchneeded clout to the batting line.