Volts looking to continue summer of runs
IT would not be a surprise if the Central Districts bowlers have had a few nightmares this week.
They were pummelled to all parts of the University of Otago Oval on Sunday.
Now they have to face the Otago Volts in another Ford Trophy game today, this time in Nelson.
It has not just been them though.
The 407 runs Otago smashed might have been the peak performance, but it has followed a summer in which runs have flowed.
The Stags may be glad Hamish Rutherford will not be there.
He has been included in the New Zealand A lineup to play India A after smashing 155 off 104 balls on Sunday.
However, Nick Kelly and Neil Broom have been equally prolific in a summer of runs.
Across all three formats this summer, that trio has scored 1938 runs in a destructive manner.
It is the oneday matches, in particular, that boost that record.
In the Ford Trophy, they have managed a combined 741 runs at 52.92.
Kelly, who will captain the side today, leads the way, numberswise at least.
He has scored 304 runs at 50.66 in the Ford Trophy.
Included in that is a 120, while in the twenty20 campaign he added 398 runs at an impressive 44.22.
Rutherford has been equally devastating.
His 155 rates as one of the more brilliant oneday innings played by an Otago batsman.
It added one to his previous highest score for the province — only Broom and Brendon McCullum have scored more.
It was in the T20 Super Smash he found that form.
While his 293 runs at 29.3 may not catch the eye so much, he did that at a blistering strike rate of 173.37 — the best in the competition.
Not to be outdone, Broom has shown similarly strong form in the limitedovers matches.
He has scored a century and two halfcenturies in his five Ford Trophy innings, racking up 249 runs at 49.8.
In the Super Smash, he added 357 runs at 32.45, while leading the competition in sixes with 18, alongside Martin Guptill.
Following him were Rutherford and Kelly, on 17 and 16 respectively.
Considering the batting issues the side faced a year ago, those are not insignificant numbers.
The most recent outing was
also significant in that it gave Otago a potentially crucial bonus point.
It lifts the side to third on 13 points, one ahead of Northern Districts, with four games remaining.
Alongside Rutherford, Otago will also be without Michael Rae and Jacob Duffy — both of whom are also with New Zealand A.
Dale Phillips, Travis Muller and newcomer Angus McKenzie come into the team.
McKenzie plays for Albion and is a rightarm bowler and leftarm batsman. He came down to Dunedin from Auckland to study last year and has played for Otago A this season.
The match is scheduled to begin at 11am.