Volts facing uphill battle
HOW many more runs will Canterbury want?
It is the question which may have kept the Otago camp up late last night.
The Volts are firmly on the back foot in their Plunket Shield match at Molyneux Park.
The competition leader is 424 for four at stumps on day two. It is chunky total, made all the more sizeable when you consider it rolled Otago for 168 on the opening day.
Canterbury already has a considerable lead of 256 with six wickets in hand and two days remaining.
It has an opportunity to compile an even more massive lead and reduce Otago’s prospects of escaping with a draw.
Volts coach Rob Walter suspects Canterbury will bat for another session.
‘‘I’d expect they will push to lunch and add 100 to what they are now,’’ he said.
‘‘But we’ll fight hard in the morning and try to slow the scoring down.
‘‘If we can take a few wickets, that will take some time out of the game which is the main priority. And then we’ll just see where that leaves us.’’
Canterbury seamers Will Williams and Fraser Sheat had been in good form leading into the game. They added to their impressive season with a polished effort with the ball on Saturday.
Williams (two for 37) removed both openers cheaply and Sheat (three for 48) picked up the key wicket of Hamish Rutherford.
Otago’s top order has underdelivered this season and found itself 40 for four and unable to stop sliding further into the abyss.
Nick Kelly offered some resistance. He posted a half century and seamer Jacob Duffy tonked a useful 43 from 48 deliveries.
‘‘We weren’t up to it on day one. To be honest, it was a poor batting display on our part,’’ Walter said.
‘‘We didn’t execute the plans we spoke about all week. There is no way to sugarcoat that.
‘‘We ended up being dismissed in the exact ways we talked about not being dismissed.’’
Ed Nuttall made a valuable contribution for Canterbury as well. The leftarmer took three for 42.
It was an excellent bowling performance which the batsmen built on.
Opener Ken McClure batted for more than seven hours during his knock of 165. He combined with test opener Tom Latham (63) in a stand of 121 for the first wicket.
Henry Nicholls cast off the rust with a fine innings of 87 at No 3. He had not played since March, so it was a very encouraging return.
Daryl Mitchell (28 not out) and Leo Carter (24 not out) will resume this morning.
At Saxton Oval, Central Districts is 161 for four in reply to Northern Districts’ haul of 347.
BJ Watling topscored for Northern with 77, while Seth Rance captured five for 64.
Wellington has moved into a commanding position in its match with Auckland at the Basin Reserve.
Devon Conway (149 not out) and Michael Bracewell (123 not out) have guided their side to 312 for two in reply to Auckland’s first innings total of 279.