Firebirds cop flogging and unwanted record

Wellington have broken a century-old record in Plunket Shield domestic cricket after they were again rolled by Canterbury yesterday.

After the Firebirds were dismissed for 80 in their first innings at the Basin Reserve, they again had no answer for the Canterbury attack as they were bowled out for 87.

That handed the visitors a 290-run victory — and saw Wellington finish with a match aggregate of 167, the lowest in more than a century of Plunket Shield matches.

The competition began in the 1906-07 season, and the mark wasn’t the worst in Wellington’s history. The province’s lowest first-class aggregate score came in 1887 against Nelson, in the days of uncovered pitches, but that would have provided scant consolation to the humbled batsmen.

After Tom Latham had found the Basin Reserve conditions to his liking while stroking an unbeaten 143 in Canterbury’s second-innings total of 334-8 declared, Wellington were set a target of 378 for victory.

Their odds of pulling off that unlikely result had been hit when they closed day two on 9-2, and things didn’t get any better yesterday.

Rachin Ravindra’s departure saw the home side lose their last seven wickets for 38 runs.

Black Caps seamer Matt Henry led the way with 4-28 — complementing the 3-16 he picked up in the first innings — while Sean Davey backed up his five-wicket bag with 2-25.

Despite the hammering, Wellington still sit level with Canterbury atop the standings after two matches, though that could change today if Otago earn victory over Northern Districts.

The home side headed to stumps in Mt Maunganui on 39-1 last night, trailing by 35 runs with Otago still to bat in their second innings.