An excellent bowling performance from the Mondiale Auckland Aces maintained their unbeaten home record in Georgie Pie Super Smash, after defending 156 in a tight contest with the SBS Bank Otago Volts.
Apart from some Colin Munro fireworks, in which the champion dispatcher sent the Volts' bowlers to all parts for a ballistic 45, the Aces’ innings struggled to get out of second gear. Several batsmen got starts, but none could kick on and play an anchoring role.
The tone was set from a tough start, Nathan McCullum taking a wicket with just the second ball of the match.
The Volts must have been pleased with the immediate payback from having won the toss, and bowled and fielded exceptionally well as the Aces continued to pick out fielders, while the Volts held firm.
Munro’s 45, which included five sixes, provided a lot of entertainment for the crowd.
Aside from his 17-ball stay at the crease, the Volts' bowlers kept the Auckland batsmen well in check, Nathan McCullum taking home the headline figures with 3-19 as they restricted their hosts to 156.
In reply, the Volts looked like they wanted to get things done quickly as their openers exploded out of the blocks. Kitchen and Broom were humming along until a change in the attack saw Grobbelaar take the ball and pick up Broom. The wicket came just two balls after Broom had been struck on the wrist by a Grobbelaar full toss.
That wicket, however, didn’t slow the Volts’ pace as they continued to look to push the run rate, particularly through Kitchen. It wasn’t until Nethula and Nicol united that the innings slowed down.
Both picked up vital wickets and their solid bowling helped push the game in Auckland’s favour. Their work was continued by Quinn, McClenaghan and Bates.
Some late big hitting saw the Volts get close, but Bates and Quinn kept things together for the Aces to secure the win.
Get your Georgie Pie Super Smash tickets online and go in the draw to win a Ford Fiesta Trend Manual*
*Conditions apply
