ROUND EIGHT
OTAGO VOLTS beat CANTERBURY by 31 runs
21 February 2021
John Davies Oval, Queenstown
SELECTED MILESTONES
• PJ Pasco. Umpire, List A debut
The Otago Volts got back on the horse in Queenstown, keeping The Ford Trophy table tight and themselves in the frame with a 31-run upset over leaders Canterbury.
At stunning John Davies Oval, Volts skipper Jacob Duffy won the toss and watched most of his top to middle order stand up. Opener Nick Kelly bounced back from Friday to get a start, then carry on for a valuable knock of 76 off 99 balls, including two sixes and seven fours as he underpinned the innings through the first 33 overs.
That stability was key to allowing Michael Rippon to carry on at five for a 73-ball 77, sharing a 64-run stand with Dale Phillips (31, below) that helped the Volts get to 269 for nine in their 50 overs.
Matt Henry had again impressed amongst the Canterbury bowlers, picking up the key wicket of left-hander Kelly and finishing with three for 37, while Ed Nuttall charged in and chipped in a handy 2-38 off his ten.
If the Volts' tally looked a little light on the small ground in the conditions, their bowlers soon fixed that. Duffy made a breakthrough at the top with Chad Bowes departing early, then the energetic Michael Rae came on in the 11th over and nabbed four for 39.
Canterbury's potent order were chipping away nicely before the Volts kept coming back at them with a crucial wicket. Henry Nicholls (below) cruised to 33 before Rae had him caught.
Tom Latham powered to 36, consistent captain Cole McConchie reached 45 and after the loss of too many wickets, Sean Davey stepped in to threaten the Volts' composure with a rapid 43 off 39 balls, batting at eight.
But Duffy picked up a further two wickets and a runout in the 49th over to finish off Canterbury for 232, a haul of 3-48 as the Volts joined the Aces and Firebirds with a 4-4 record with the two decisive rounds to come this Friday and Sunday in Wellington, the Volts' next games; Rangiora and Hamilton.
