ROUND THREE • 2022/23
Cobham Oval, Whangarei
4 December 2022
Northern Districts lost to the Wellington Firebirds by 50 runs
Selected milestones
Rachin Ravindra: 2nd List A century (both for Wellington Firebirds)
Neil Wagner: career-best List A batting
The Wellington Firebirds' face of the future shone once more with a second Ford Trophy century for Rachin Ravindra.
The composed young opening batsman's 105 off 99 balls helped his side post a good total of 270 at Whangarei's large oval and, although he initially lacked support from the rest of the top order, handy partnerships with Tim Robinson (33) and Logan van Beek (27) were key to the visitors making good on their decision to bat first in the humid conditions.
Kristian Clarke | MBUTCHER
Northern Districts youngster and former NZU19 star allrounder Kristian Clarke meanwhile continued to turn heads, taking yet another haul of four wickets in just his second List A Ford Trophy appearance.
Clarke netted 4-50 off his eight overs to follow up his 4-40 on debut in the previous match.
Brett Hampton (above) and Neil Wagner would also have handy all-round games, Hampton claiming 3-49 and top-scoring with 55 for ND, and Wagner following up his 2-32 in the first innings with a one-day career best knock of 45 not out off 42 balls, as ND fought to stave off defeat.
But the big problem for ND was Ben Sears. Combining sweetly with Ollie Newton who was fresh off his scorching career-best six-for in the previous round, the return of Sears added an x-factor to the Firebirds attack as he ripped out four wickets across the order.
Katene Clarke got a good start with 34, and number four Henry Cooper had looked on for the first half ton of the chase before that man Ravindra bowled him on 49.
At 140/6 before the 30-over mark, ND needed a big effort from the lower order but only Hampton and Wagner could get going as Ravindra spun on to pocket 3-52 off his 10.
Northern was bowled out for 220 in the 44th over, Wellington retaining the Andy Roberts Memorial Trophy.
