• 2022/23 SPLIT ROUND:
SEVENTH ROUND for Otago Volts
EIGHTH ROUND for CANTERBURY
OTAGO VOLTS beat CANTERBURY by 3 wickets
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
18 January 2023
Selected milestones
Niel Luow: List A umpiring debut
Mitch Hay (Canterbury): Career best score
Jake Gibson (Otago Volts): Career best score
All images | PHOTOSPORT
Deposed leader Canterbury missed out on a shot at regaining The Ford Trophy lead from the Central Stags after a three-wicket loss to the revitalised Otago Volts this evening in Dunedin.
The Volts chased down their target of 170 with 6.1 overs to spare, having earlier dismissed Canterbury in 46 overs after winning the toss and bowling first this morning at University of Otago Oval.
Leo Carter top-scored for Canterbury with 51, and Mitch Hay had reached a career best 42 at the top, but the visitors struggled for meaningful partnerships as the Volts made regular breakthroughs, paceman Michael Rae again to the fore with a return of 3-35.
The Volts got off to a stuttery reply with captain Hamish Rutherford's miserable run of form continuing, losing regular wickets themselves to give Canterbury a sniff of an unlikely victory.
But seasoned rearguard defender Michael Rippon again stood up and took control of the chase, finishing unbeaten on 44* after a key 62-run stand for the seventh wicket with Jake Gibson (a career-best 33).
Well into the business end of the competition with little more than four weeks now until the 2022/23 Ford Trophy finals for the top three placegetters, the next men's one-day match sees the Otago Volts head to Hamilton to play Northern Districts on 25 January for a chance to leapfrog yet another spot up into third, while the Auckland Aces will meet the Wellington Firebirds on the same day at the Cello Basin Reserve anxious to make tracks up from the foot of the table.
The women's one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield championship is meanwhile back in action this Sunday when the Central Hinds will host the Otago Sparks in Nelson, the day after their history-making Dream11 Super Smash clash at Saxton Oval.
