Marshall rues untimely demise
Even at the midway stage of a hefty run chase, Wellington skipper Hamish Marshall felt his side were a chance in Saturday’s Ford Trophy final.
The Firebirds were unable to add a 50-over title to the Twenty20 silverware they won last month, losing to Canterbury by 28 runs in a rain-reduced 20-over contest at Rangiora’s Mainpower Oval.
Spearheaded by the fastest New Zealand domestic one-day ton from Canterbury veteran Peter Fulton, off just 50 balls, Wellington’s pursuit of 200 proved a bridge too far. Fulton finished unbeaten on 116 from 58 balls.
Marshall and Tom Blundell got Wellington off to a rollicking reply after the early loss of Michael Papps, scoring at more than 10 an over.
Nervous faces started to appear in the Canterbury field; the hosts without a white ball trophy since February 2006.
Marshall believed Wellington were well placed at 105-3 after 10 overs. When he charged down the wicket and was undone by a wrong ‘un from Canterbury legspinner Todd Astle, the Firebirds unravelled.
It had been exhilarating batting from Marshall, who gave Wellington the rapid start they needed, smashing 11 fours in his 59 from 29 balls.
‘‘It takes a special innings to chase a score like that and we knew if someone hung in there for long enough we’d have a chance,’’ Marshall lamented.
‘‘I got out at a time when if I’d gone through and people had batted around me, we may have got a bit closer. It put pressure on the lower order.’’
Matt Taylor, Wellington’s limited overs find of the season, departed three balls later, also falling to another beauty from Astle.
That was the death knell for the Firebirds, who despite some solid hitting from Luke Woodcock and Michael Pollard couldn’t keep up with the soaring run rate.
The Firebirds were in a strong position after winning the toss and play began at 4.30pm.
Canterbury were 32-2 in the sixth over, but unwanted Black Caps ODI batsman Henry Nicholls and the evergreen Fulton took the match away from them with a 117-run third wicket stand.
Fulton’s first scoring shot off his fourth ball faced was a lucky snick past vacant first slip. Apart from that, chances were few and far between. There was some average bowling from the Firebirds with too many short and wide deliveries being tossed up, but Fulton’s powerful stroke making would have frustrated most attacks.
Canterbury scored a staggering 140 runs during the last 10 overs with pinch hitter Tim Johnston adding a handy 17 not out from nine balls.
Marshall labelled Fulton’s century as one of the better domestic 50-over innings he had seen given the importance of the match.
Fulton hit seven sixes in his unbeaten 116, three of which were pelted off Anurag Verma in consecutive deliveries.
‘‘He’s a good player and always has been. He’s 38, isn’t he? It’s great to see guys at that age performing at this level,’’ said Marshall, who is the same age.
Marshall and the Firebirds, who finished top of the table, were gutted not to be able to add a 50-over title to their Twenty20 crown.
After finishing bottom of the table in the last two domestic 50-over seasons, he was proud of the progress they were making in white ball cricket.
‘‘The team is ageing a little bit, but it’s growing as well. It’s good to see.
‘‘We’ve got some young guys starting to get a taste. I think that development is there.’’