A New Zealand XI have narrowly taken victory over a NZC Emerging Players XI in the first of three One-Day matches at Bert Sutcliffe Oval this week.
Auckland quick Lockie Ferguson took three wickets in the last over of the Emerging Players XI’s chase including one off the final ball to stifle any hope the side had of taking victory.
The side’s hopes of victory took several blows as late wickets fell. A strong middle order partnership between Corey Anderson and Tim Seifert had looked like it would guide the side to victory but neither player could kick on to finish the innings after getting starts.
Otago teammates Hamish Rutherford and Michael Bracewell had given the Emerging Players side a strong start bringing up a 50 run opening stand, but after Bracewell went for 28 the side struggled to put pressure on the scoring rate.
Earlier the New Zealand XI had built a solid total on the back of strong half-centuries from Aucklanders Jeet Raval and Mark Chapman. The pair forming a more than hundred run partnership that calmed things down for the NZ XI after the early losses of Anton Devcich for 7 and Will Young for 14. Raval was eventually out for 88 care of Todd Astle’s bowling and a Colin de Grandhomme catch.
Emerging Players captain Michael Bracewell employed a range of bowlers as he attempted to blunt the NZ XI’s progress. Central Stag Seth Rance standing out as he collected 3/38 off his 8 overs. Canterbury teammates Matt Henry and Todd Astle each picked up 2 wickets.
The next match between the sides will start at 10-30am tomorrow.
New Zealand XI 260/8 (Jeet Raval 88, Mark Chapman 72; Seth Rance 3/38) defeated NZC Emerging Players XI (Hamish Rutherford 51, Corey Anderson 51, Tim Seifert 43; Lockie Ferguson 5/61) by three runs (match reduced to 45 overs each).
NEW ZEALAND XI
AP Devcich, JA Raval, WA Young (c), MS Chapman, TA Blundell, S Hicks, CD Fletcher (wk), BM Wheeler, LH Ferguson, JA Duffy, HK Bennett
NZC EMERGING PLAYERS
MG Bracewell (c), HD Rutherford, RR O'Donnell, CJ Anderson, C de Grandhomme, TL Seifert (wk), AF Milne, TD Astle, SC Kuggeleijn, MJ Henry, EJ Nuttall, SHA Rance
