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SPLIT ROUND: SIXTH GAME FOR FIREBIRDS, SEVENTH GAME FOR OTAGO VOLTS
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
20-23 March, 2022
RESULT: Otago Volts won by 7 wickets
Toss: Volts who bowled
First innings bonus points: Otago Volts 3, Wellington Firebirds 6
Total points this round: Otago Volts 15, Wellington Firebirds 6
Selected Milestones
First-class and Wellington Firebirds debut - Devan Vishvaka
Firrst-class debut (Wellington Firebirds) - Tim Robinson
Troy Johnson - second first-class century
Troy Johnson - first-class career best
Ollie Newton - first-class career best batting
Dale Phillips - third first-class century
DAY FOUR
The Dunner stunner was back at last
After a slight delay for the ground to dry off on a sunny final morning, a double declaration saw the Otago Volts needing 306 for the win and a rollicking chase ensue.
The Volts made a good start before Firebirds paceman Iain McPeake bit back and accounted for both openers in quick succession at 71/2.
By lunch, however, the Volts had stormed on ahead to 143/2 with batsmen Dale Phillips and Nick Kelly both set.
Picking the boundaries, Phillips went on to his half ton off just 82 balls, the positive pair putting on a century stand for the third wicket as they saw their side through to the 200-mark for no further loss.
Kelly was next to his half ton, off 88 balls as the duo notched the 150 in their match-defining stand.
Phillips was on 86*, now, and a couple more boundaries put him on the brink of a third Plunket Shield century.
Another cracking pull for four saw the milestone arrive off 147 balls after two and a half hours of solid work, including 18 boundaries.
💯 | Dale Phillips brings up his third first-class Century with a cracking pull shot through mid-wicket 👏🏼
— Otago Cricket (@OtagoVolts) March 23, 2022
His century came in 147 balls including 18 x fours! #OurOtago #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/AQnojGHScF
He would eventually be undone when he went to hook Ollie Newton once more, caught on 114.
The Firebirds were running out of time to snatch victory, however, with a further seven wickets needed and the Volts 249/3 chasing 306.
Kelly went on to an unbeaten 85* in an unbroken partnership of 60* with rookie Jacob Cumming before bringing it home with back-to-back boundaries off Rachin Ravindra in the third session for an exciting victory.
DAY THREE
Wet weather reached the south and prevented the third day's play with the Otago Volts five down and still trailing the Firebirds by 305 runs.
DAY TWO
The Otago Volts finally dismissed Wellington shortly before lunch on the second day, then negotiated a niggly single over before the meal break with openers Mitch Renwick and Hamish Rutherford heading back in at 2/0.
The Firebirds' batsmen had enjoyed their morning's work, pushing on to 469 in their innings, top scorer Troy Johnson stranded just short of what would have been a maiden double century.
He would have to settle for an outstanding career best knock of 194 not out, after almost seven focused hours at the crease.
Standing in the way of the Volts wrapping things up quickly had been not only Johnson, but Ollie Newton who contributed a first-class career-best 70 off just 87 balls (11 boundaries and two sixes) - a tremendous knock at nine.
The pair fashioned a century stand that frustrated the hosts until Jarrod Mckay finally picked up his second of three wickets in the innings.
The end was nigh after that. Michael Rae was also left with a three-for before Michael Rippon wrapped things up with his second.
By stumps, the Volts had a lot of work to do to get back into the game: five down and still trailing by 305 runs.
The youthful pair of Jacob Cumming (22*) and Max Chu (2*) were in the middle at 164/5, Nathan Smith having stopped both Rutherford (44) and Nick Kelly (48) from reaching half centuries.
Rachin Ravindra has removed his fellow spinner Michael Rippon for a three-ball duck shortly before stumps, while Dale Phillips had had the misfortune to have been run out at 104/3 by an outstandingly quick shy from Michael Snedden.
The tall man Snedden showed great awareness and dexterity as he chased a ball off his own bowling. Nick Kelly had turned the delivery for a quick single, the batsmen scrambling as Snedden sped to collect it, turned and, off balance, knocked out a stump almost from square on: an outstanding piece of fielding.
Late @OtagoVolts wickets on Day 2 in Dunedin for @cricketwgtninc including this sharp run out from Michael Snedden off his own bowling. Scores + HIGHLIGHTS | https://t.co/IIdHp77FbD #PlunketShield pic.twitter.com/k3wHhPjr5h
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 21, 2022
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DAY ONE
A career-best, unbeaten 116* from Troy Johnson provided the opening day's highlight as Tom Blundell's fresh-look Wellington Firebirds made a good start to this bottom of the table clash in Dunedin.
The Firebirds, with two Plunket Shield debutants in the mixer, finished the first day in fair shape at 319 for seven - and had been in even better shape at 263/3, before the Volts fought back with late wickets.
First drop Johnson's second first-class ton came in just his 10th match at this level while young opening batsman Devan Vishvaka reached an adventurous half century on debut with nine boundaries and a six in his first Firebirds innings.
In fact, both openers, Vishvaka and Rachin Ravindra, contributed 56 before departing in quick succession just before lunch, after a 113-run opening stand.
Back from a hamstring injury, Volts strikeman Michael Rae would lead the way with three wickets for the hosts, and made his start in the 29th over.
But once Johnson got going - after surviving a big early chance in the slips - the 24-year-old made sure the Firebirds won the middle session, as well.
He had help from debutant Tim Robinson who impressed on first-class debut, after his first Dream11 Super Smash summer earlier this season.
Batting at five, Robinson also reached a half century on first-class debut, sharing a 144-run stand with Johnson.
Having been 203/3 at tea, after almost three hours of good work, Robinson was eventually bowled by Rae on 54, eight boundaries in his knock.
Rae struck again quickly: Blundell was caught by Dale Phillips, backed up by a wicket for Michael Rippon as the Firebirds hit some turbulence and nosedived from 263 for three to 266 for six in the space of just a couple of overs.
The loss of Nathan Smith, trapped by Travis Muller, saw the Volts net their bowling bonus before stumps, the Firebirds set to resume day two at 319/7.
