Johns cameo helps Firebirds pip Volts to lift Ford Trophy
Lauchie Johns held his nerve to help the Wellington Firebirds to a win in the Ford Trophy final.
The wicketkeeper finished not out on 24 off 20 balls as they beat the Otago Volts by three wickets at University Oval in Dunedin yesterday.
He saw his side home after Malcolm Nofal (73) and Peter Younghusband (49) got them close with an 118-run stand for the sixth wicket in their chase of 235.
The Volts did well to make a game of it after winning the toss as the Firebirds reduced them to 57-7 in the 16th over.
Two of their bowlers – Michael Rippon (82) and Christi Viljoen (87no) – kept them alive, sharing a 146-run stand for the eighth wicket, a record for the Volts against all opponents.
Firebirds captain Hamish Bennett did the bulk of the damage early on, taking three wickets in the space of four balls in the 10th over, his fifth.
Youngster Nathan Smith was the first to go, caught by Jimmy Neesham for five, and he was followed a ball later by Shawn Hicks, who chopped on.
Anaru Kitchen survived the hat-trick ball, but edged the third ball he faced to Johns.
That left the Volts 39-5, as Ollie Newton had already claimed openers Brad Wilson (nine) and Mitch Renwick (one).
Ian McPeake took care of Neil Broom, who was caught behind for 25, while Josh Finnie was run out for a duck.
That was when Rippon and Viljoen came together.
Rippon was Bennett’s fourth victim, caught by McPeake in the 48th over for 82 but by then the Volts had a total that was defendable.
Viljoen finished not out on 87 – his highest one-day score – with the Volts 234-8.
The Firebirds had succeeded in a similar chase only on Wednesday, when they pipped the Auckland Aces in the elimination final. On that occasion, they lost three wickets before reaching 100, but this time they lost five.
Duffy dismissed Andrew Fletcher for four, while Anaru Kitchen bowled Devon Conway for 12 and Michael Pollard was run out for 33.
Rippon claimed two with his left-arm wrist spin – Jimmy Neesham for six, and Michael Bracewell for 11 – to leave the Firebirds 75-5, and running out of recognised batsman.
Just as it was for the Volts, it was going to be up to the Firebirds’ tail – though in Nofal they at least had someone with a couple of first-class hundreds to his name.
Younghusband and his career tally of 146 one-day runs was another story, but he stood up when needed, only to fall one short of a precious milestone, with a further 42 runs required, trapped in front by Duffy.
The asking rate was around a run a ball at that stage, but new man Johns and Nofal looked to have it under control, until the established batsman gave Rippon an easy catch at mid off in Duffy’s final over.
Johns scored seven in the next over from Smith, which went for nine overall, swinging the equation the Firebirds’ way, and Newton hit the winning runs with eight balls to spare.