There was a thrilling end to the series deciding New Zealand XI v NZC Emerging Players match at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. A terrific last ditch partnership from Tim Seifert and Jacob Duffy gave the New Zealand XI a five wicket win.
The chase did not begin well for the NZ XI with Matt Henry picking up Anton Devcich in the first over, before Captain Will Young led from the front with 81 off 94. Young formed a good partnership with former opposing captain Michael Bracewell. The Otago batsman had been captain of Emerging XI for the first two games.
However, when Tim Seifert came to the crease there was still a lot of work to do. His time in the middle didn’t start well with Todd Astle getting a chance at a hat trick after removing Will Young and Tom Blundell. The NZ XI needed 113 runs, and only had 18 overs to get them.
The Northern Districts wicket keeper stepped up and timed the chase perfectly, hitting the winning runs with four balls to spare. Seifert finishing with 67 off 53 balls.
Earlier the Emerging Players XI put together a very competitive 231-9 from 40 overs. Initial pressure was applied from Ben Wheeler and Jacob Duffy, leaving the Emerging Players hanging at 2-19.
Colin de Grandhomme steadied the ship, before a brilliant knock of 75* from Canterbury’s Todd Astle changed the course of the innings.
Astle began running out of partners before finding Scott Kuggeleijn, who played a run a ball 48. Will Young used seven different bowlers, Wheeler, Duffy and Bennett finishing with two wickets each.
Although not an official series, the New Zealand XI will take the plaudits with a 2-1 victory.
NZC Emerging Players XI 231-9 (Todd Astle 75*, Scott Kuggeleijn 48) lost to New Zealand XI 233/5 (Will Young 81, Tim Seifert 67*, Michael Bracewell 35) by 5 wickets.
NEW ZEALAND XI
JA Raval, AP Devcich, WA Young (c), MG Bracewell, TL Seifert, TA Blundell (wk), S Hicks, BM Wheeler, JA Duffy, HK Bennett, LH Winn
NZC EMERGING PLAYERS XI
CD Fletcher (wk), HD Rutherford, RR O'Donnell, CJ Anderson (c), C de Grandhomme, TD Astle, AF Milne, MJ Henry, SC Kuggeleijn, SHA Rance, EJ Nuttall
