STATISTICS: A summary of the statistics and milestones following the fourth round of Ford Trophy cricket.
Craig Cumming became the first Otago Volts player to play 100 List A matches during their match against the Auckland Aces in Dunedin. He also became the first Volts player to reach 3,000 one day runs during his innings of 78.
Brad Cachopa went close to his maiden one day century during the week but made no mistake this time scoring 114 in just his third match for the Aces to set the foundation for their run chase. Colin de Grandhomme played another cameo innings in the charge for victory. His innings of 43 was his highest for Auckland and was scored off just 18 balls.
Neil Wagner became the tenth Otago player to take 50 one day wickets but at some cost as the 76 runs he conceded were the third most expensive figures for the Volts against the Aces.
This was the second highest successful run chase by the Aces after the 309 they scored against the Northern Knights way back in the 1982-83 season. It is just the seventh occasion that a team has scored 300 or more to win batting second in New Zealand domestic one day history.
One of those occasions was in 2003-04 as the Canterbury Wizards successfully chased a Wellington Firebirds total of 308. However they weren't able to repeat those heroics as they fell 33 short in Timaru. The Firebirds scored their second highest ever total of 307 with Grant Elliott scoring his second one day century against the Wizards. His century was the fastest for the Firebirds coming in 81 balls, two fewer than Chris Nevin needed against the Central Stags in 1997-98.
The partnership of 146 for the 4th wicket between Grant Elliott and Harry Boam was the second highest for this wicket for the Firebirds. It has been surpassed only by the 162 added by Neal Parlane and Elliott against the Knights in 2008-09.
Andy McKay became just the second Firebirds bowler to collect four wicket bags in successive innings when he polished off the tail to finish with 4-63. Andrew Penn is the only player to have performed this feat previously.
Timaru continued its reputation for being a high scoring venue. This was the fifth occasion in 15 matches there that a team has scored 300 or more. Only QEII Park in Christchurch has seen more scores of 300 with seven in 20 games.
The two wickets that Graeme Aldridge took for the Northern Knights took his career tally to 143, level with Chris Harris as the most prolific wicket-taker in New Zealand domestic one day cricket. Michael Mason took his career total to 128 during the Knights innings lifting him to fourth equal on the all-time list level with Alex Tait. Joe Yovich remains in seventh place with 123 wickets.
Harry Boam (Firebirds) with 65* against the Wizards and Sam Wells (Volts) with 50 against the Aces both scored List A career bests while Tarun Nethula took career-best figures of 3-23 for the Stags against the Knights.
