Randell’s purple patch continues At a glance
For the second time in a week, Brett Randell has knocked over a top-order to place Northern Districts in a strong position.
Fresh from career-best Plunket Shield figures in last week’s loss to Canterbury, Randell took three wickets on the opening day’s play against the Otago Volts at Molyneux Park in Alexandra.
The Volts limped through to 185-7 at stumps, after being put in when Northern captain Joe Carter won the toss yesterday morning, in the final Plunket Shield match of the calendar year.
Randell, who took a career-best 4-32 in the first innings against Canterbury and 7-67 for the match (also a careerbest) struck in the opening over against Otago, as the Plunket Shield returned to Molyneux Park for the first time since 2018.
Randell trapping Otago opening bat Mitch Renwick in front, for no score, just three balls into the Volts’ innings.
Randell, who delivered 14 overs for just 22 runs, inflicted further damage when he bowled Dale Phillips for seven to have Otago at 30-2.
Former Black Caps opener Hamish Rutherford kept
Otago on an even keel as the two early wickets fell but when he was the third to go, the Volts were precariously placed at 79-3.
Even more so when Randell rattled Anaru Kitchen’s castle at 92-4.
Nick Kelly then came to Otago’s rescue with a classy 57, including eight fours and a six, but was caught out cutting to Scott Kuggeleijn.
Following a lengthy rain delay, the players returned for a short spell late in the day that broke a promising partnership when Travis Muller was caught by
Randell from the bowling of off-spinner Joe Walker.
Wicketkeeper Max Chu (30 not out) – who put on 56 for the seventh wicket with Muller – is now Otago’s best hope of getting through to a respectable first innings score on day two.
Colin de Grandhomme, who missed selection for the T20 World Cup, got through 11 tidy overs, nicking out Rutherford at second slip in the process.
Northern Districts are playing in just their second match of the season after Covid-19 lockdowns have plagued the early part of their Plunket Shield season.