DAY FOUR
A top of the table clash couldn't have been much better for the Mondiale Auckland Aces as a whopping innings and 119 runs victory saw them pull out in front of the Wellington Firebirds to the tune of 19 out of a possible 20 points.
The visitors has started the day four down, still needing 183 just to make their hosts bat again.
Having reached his half century just before stumps the day before, English pro Scott Borthwick would be the first to go on day four as Tarun Nethula kept up the pressure to have him caught.
Nethula was on his way to eight for the match, going on to remove Tom Blundell (15) and then Fraser Colson (21) with a wrong 'un to have the Firebirds fretting.
By the time teams went to lunch early, after a brush of light rain on the final day, the Firebirds were praying the heavens were about to open.
Eight down, they still required another 139 runs to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat. But Donovan Grobbelaar (3-27) struck quickly for no addition to the Firebirds' lunchtime tally of 200, trapping Dane Hutchinson second ball after the break.
Legspinner Nethula was still sitting on a ripping four-for, and captain Rob Nicol allowed him to continue hunting for a five-wicket haul.
But it would be young pacer Shawn Hicks who claimed the last wicket to hand the Firebirds a hiding, the Aces deposing them at the head of the points table in serious style.
DAY THREE
Stumps score: Wellington Firebirds 155/4 second innings (Michael Papps 47, Scott Borthwick 50 not out) trailing by 183. Earlier: Mondiale Auckland Aces finished at 512/9 declared in their first innings, Brad Cachopa 60, Donovan Grobbelaar adding 44 not out, Tarun Nethula 41; Dane Hutchinson 4-89).
As if a 21-year-old maiden centurion pushing on to 167 on the previous day had not been enough to annoy the Wellington Firebirds, Aces rearguarders Donovan Grobbelaar and Tarun Nethula added another 85 runs together to really get up the Wellingtonians' noses on the third morning at Colin Maiden.
Donovan Grobbelaar bats...
And to think the Firebirds had been quite chuffed about getting the prodigious Brad Cachopa out early, on his overnight score of 60...
Onwards and onwards some more, the Aces trucked their way from 369 for four to 512 for nine before captain Rob Nicol declared, setting the Firebirds a last innings challenge of 338 in blistering Auckland humidity.
The Firebirds 33/1 at tea, Grobbelaar wasn't finished with his contributions to the cause for the day, nabbing two of the four wickets to fall before stumps in a tremulous last session for the visitors.
Still trailing by 183, they had lost four big wickets, including Luke Ronchi, bowled round his legs by a Nethula ripper on 26.
Already Luke Woodcock (early, caught off Michael Bates) had departed; then Michael Papps (47) and Stephen Murdoch (13) were both caught off the niggardly Grobbelaar.
... Donovan Grobbelaar bowls
County pro Scott Borthwick had saved the last hour, however, by getting to his half century undefeated before stumps were pulled for the day. He had shared a 19-run stand with the unpredictable Tom Blundell by the end of play.
If the Aces can shoot down the 'Birds' tomorrow, they will depose their capital rivals for outright top spot on the ladder, with four rounds remaining.
DAY TWO
Stumps score: Mondiale Auckland Aces 369/4 (Michael Guptill-Bunce 89, Robbie O'Donnell 167 maiden century, Brad Cachopa 60 not out) lead by 195 runs at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland
Robbie O’Donnell’s maiden first-class century was the headline act from a day that saw the Mondiale Auckland Aces build a healthy 195-run lead against the Wellington Firebirds.
O’Donnell and Michael Guptill-Bunce had entered the day looking to eat into Wellington’s lead, and the duo went about their work quickly.
Guptill-Bunce in particular stroked boundaries well, while O’Donnell rotated the strike handily.
Guptill-Bunce going past 50 for the second match in a row, then the Aces crept past 100 and O’Donnell was past his own 50 for the second innings in a row. Not long after, they were past 150, and within striking distance of the Firebirds' total, overtaking it just before lunch.
After the break, Guptill-Bunce was on 89 when he fell to a cracking catch in close, from Tom Blundell. However, there was little let up for the Wellingtonians as captain Rob Nicol and O’Donnell continued the positive play.
Robbie O'Donnell's maiden ton was emphatic. Photosport
Nicol was looking in good touch until he misjudged one from Scott Borthwick. O’Donnell was then joined by Brad Cachopa and, after a settling period against the new ball, the pair combined well and had things moving along.
The batsmen built well towards tea and, after returning to the field, O’Donnell went past his 150, before being trapped on 167 by Borthwick to close a fine maiden ton.
That left Cachopa and de Grandhomme to take their side to the close of play. The pair was able to do so without providing chances, and Cachopa went comfortably past his half century in the process.
DAY ONE
Stumps score: Mondiale Auckland Aces 72/1 (Michael Guptill-Bunce 33 not out, Robbie O'Donnell 30 not out). Earlier, Wellington Firebirds 174 all out in 71.1 overs (Luke Ronchi 50; Colin de Grandhomme 4-31) at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland
Toss time with two legends at a sunny Colin Maiden Oval. Photosport
Mondiale Auckland Aces skipper Rob Nicol’s choice to send the Wellington Firebirds in on the first morning of their top-of-the-table Plunket Shield clash at Colin Maiden Park paid quick dividends.
Import Nathan McAndrew was the first to justify Nicol’s decision as he sent Luke Woodcock’s off stump cartwheeling.
Woodcock was quickly followed back by Firebirds captain Michael Papps, who pushed one to a close-in Robbie O’Donnell off Michael Bates.
Wellington then had a settling period and between Stephen Murdoch and County pro Scott Borthwick they looked to steady things to lunch.
However, Murdoch couldn’t last, losing his wicket just before the break.
After the interval, things went south again for the visitors. Colin de Grandhomme found his bowling rhythm and was able to produce wickets in quick succession to continue a good season for the big allrounder.
He had Tom Blundell, Fraser Colson and Jeetan Patel all out in no time.
Colin de Grandhomme on fire again
BLACKCAP Luke Ronchi was left at the other end holding things together for the Firebirds, showing positive intent for his side and making his way to 50.
He couldn’t push on from there, however, out trying to attack a ball from Grobbelaar.
Ronchi’s departure saw Anurag Verma and Dane Hutchinson united at the crease and the duo set about creating a useful partnership, able to eek out 30 more runs before legspinner Tarun Nethula was able to break things up.
Brent Arnel was able to help Verma take Wellington on to 176 before de Grandhomme ended things with a handy caught and bowled, dismissing Verma.
In reply, the Aces had some early strife as Raval was taken for just seven.
However, the early setback didn’t seem to bother fellow opener Michael Guptill-Bunce nor first drop Robbie O’Donnell who got into their work well.
The pair matched each other for scoring rate and mixed some handily placed boundaries with solid strike rotation, able to put a good dent in Wellington’s first innings total and finish the day at 72/1.
Article courtesy of Auckland Cricket
