The pace did not let up in the two crunch matches of ROUND NINE.
Wellington Firebirds v Mondiale Auckland Aces at Basin Reserve
Sizable Auckland wicketkeeping records went up for grabs and Brad Cachopa held onto them.
Records still won’t mean half as much to the diminutive gloveman as the fact he helped Lockie Ferguson blast out yet another five-wicket bag — which shot down the Firebirds for a first-innings lead of just 84. Plus, it meant the Aces bagged the whole four bowling bonus points in this potential cliffhanger.
Then the last session was a real power statement by the unbeaten Aces — Michael Guptill-Bunce and Jeet Raval putting on the first major stand of the match, 149 without loss as stumps, both with unbeaten half centuries, building a 65-run overall lead as they manoeuvre their team into a good position.
The ball is in the Aces’ court to convert it into a matchwinning performance with the bat, and if they do that — the Shield is theirs.
Scorecard
First innings batting bonus points, Aces: 0 (completed), Firebirds 1 (completed)
First innings bowling bonus points: Firebirds 4 (completed), Aces 4 (completed)
Milestones
• Brad Cachopa took a record equalling six catches in one innings behind the sticks (shared with Gareth Hopkins, who did it twice, and Reece Young — who like Cachopa achieved the mark at the Basin Reserve).
• Cachopa also became the first Aces keeper to make 40 grabs in a first-class season — which is a pretty epic feat. He broke his own record (39), set last season, and is one of only four keepers to reach 40 in one summer, along with Chris Nevin, BJ Watling and Derek de Boorder.
• Lockie Feguson’s 5-37 was his career best and his second in as many innings after his matchwinning effort in Dunedin last week.
• Aces opener Michael Guptill-Bunce trucked up his 1000th career run and Aces leggie Tarun Nethula ticked off his 100th first-class wicket for the Aces (having also represented the Stags).
Canterbury v SKYCITY Northern Knights at Hagley Oval
A damp morning escalated the pressure on Canterbury to get on with it, in tricky conditions. When teams did get to get on the park after lunch, Knights newbie Zak Gibson almost immediately took two quick wickets to put even more weight on the hosts.
After a tough afternoon, the end was no better. The dicey loss of Andy Ellis did nothing for Canterbury’s position as they went in for rain, and for the day, at 150/6 — no batting points as yet, and still trailing by 36 in their must-win encounter.
First innings batting bonus points, Knights: 0 (completed)
First innings bowling bonus points: Canterbury 4 (completed), Knights 3 (in progress).
Milestones
• Zak Gibson’s three-for (in progress) is his career best, but it is only the 19-year-old’s second match.
SBS Bank Otago Volts v Devon Hotel Central Stags
Not a Dunner stunner: day two washed out.
