ROUND SIX | DAY ONE
In the middle of a drought, wet weather arrived to interrupt opening day of a big Round 6 of the Plunket Shield.
Just two rounds remain after this week, making the sixth round the equivalent of “moving day” on a tight and volatile first-class table.
DUNEDIN DAMP
After a 27-degree Dunner Stunner the day before the cricket started, at University of Otago Oval there was no play at all on the first scheduled day of the four-dayer between defending champions the Central Stags — itching to get out of third — and hosts the Otago Volts — itching for another win; with a toss hopefully to be made tomorrow.
The forecast is scheduled to improve over the next three days, but hanging about playing cards and watching the other games advance — particularly in Auckland — will have done neither side’s nerves any favours.
Bonus Points (in progress): none, no toss...
LEADERS SEIZE THE DAY
Just a couple of weeks ago, Auckland’s Colin Maiden Park, which has limited irrigation, was looking more like a slab of the Sahara than a typically pleasant Kiwi cricket ground, but a sprinkling of precipitation has freshened up the turf - and the match is already well on track for a result.
Winning the toss, the hosts batted, but were all out for just 179 after the first two sessions.
Missing a handful of their powerhouse BLACKCAPS (now in Australia), the Aces will have been disappointed with that regardless — Sean Solia’s 69 at six sparing some blushes in one of only two 50-partnerships in the innings.
The other was from opener Jeet Raval and first drop Glenn Phillips (31) who batted around a brief early shower interruption before another drift of rain saw an early lunch taken at 64 for three.
Michael Snedden had claimed Raval, and he came back for two tailenders to pick up 3-42 against his old side, but everyone was in the wickets as the Firebirds — leading the Shield — sniffed a chance to rattle through and set themselves up early.
After a gallant last-wicket stand with Jamie Brown, Solia was the last man to go when he was trapped by Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell who is increasingly trotting out his off-spinners and on this occasion struck the fatal blow with just his third delivery.
The @aucklandcricket Aces reach 179 all out in their first innings at Colin Maiden Park.
— Wellington Firebirds (@wgtnfirebirds) March 10, 2020
🏏Snedden 3-42
🏏McPeake 2-53
🏏Van Beek 2-22
SCORECARD | https://t.co/VDD5InpzOy#WEAREWELLINGTON⚪ï¸🟡âš«ï¸#PlunketShield
By stumps, the Firebirds were humming along in reply, despite having lost young opener Jakob Bhula for no score early doors.
Top Plunket run-scorer Devon Conway had added to his big pile of runs for the season with an unbeaten 64* in just under three hours.
Even golden arm Glenn Phillips couldn’t dislodge him as he set about an unbroken century stand with Rachin Ravindra for the second wicket, the latter poised on 49 not out for the start of day two at 125 for one — the Firebirds trailing by just 54.
Bonus Points (in progress): Auckland Aces 0, Wellington Firebirds 4
TRICKY START FOR ND
In Hamilton, Northern Districts was sent in by Canterbury at Seddon Park after a frustrating ground delay that saw just 2.3 overs of action before lunch.
As it eventually turned out, it took Canterbury only four overs to get both Tim Seifert and Henry Cooper back in the pavilion, Fraser Sheat and Ed Nuttall both enjoying the conditions, and Sheat adding Bharat Popli with a loaded cordon before another bout of bothersome showers.
Great start by our seamers removing the Northern Districts top 3 early on.
— Canterbury Cricket (@CanterburyCrick) March 10, 2020
ND 42/3 with Watling now joining Carter out in the middle.
SCORECARD | https://t.co/LkLVv03u8W#WeAreCanterbury #PlunketShield pic.twitter.com/IMHzp4kQk7
The players went off at 58 for three, Joe Carter on 20* and BJ Watling 11* and it was Watling’s resilience that ultimately helped ND recover somewhat through the stop-start session.
The Test BLACKCAP shared a 52-stand with his captain before Carter edged Williams to third slip after a patient 37.
Watling then added 62 with Daryl Mitchell before Watling himself became Williams’ second big wicket, caught behind for the same number.
Mitchell was trucking nicely until he suddenly pulled up lame, after having set off for an innocuous single off Henry Shipley.
Hopping immediately after he had set off, Mitchell retired on 27* in the 55th over (and will have a diagnostic scan tomorrow), bringing in Scott Kuggeleijn in uncertain times at 166 for five.
Kuggeleijn put on a handy 60 with Katene Clarke before stumps for ND to resume at 226 for five.
Bonus Points (in progress): Northern Districts 1, Canterbury 2
