DAY FOUR
An unbeaten century from Neil Broom has helped the SBS Bank Otago Volts fight their way to a draw against the Devon Hotel Central Stags.
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Day four of the opening round Plunket Shield match at Nelson Park saw the Stags requiring eight wickets for victory. However, a third wicket partnership of 204 between Broom (131*) and Brad Wilson (83) nullified the Stags’ approaches, with the Volts ending at 265/3 before the match ended.
Having given themselves a huge first-innings lead of 298 runs, the Stags had finished day three with two key wickets — but it would take more than 60 overs before their next breakthrough.
Broom played freely, keeping the run rate at around three per over. After 181 balls, he was rewarded with his 16th first-class century, having all but steered his side to safety.
Wilson, in his first match for the Volts, also played a key role, but allowed the Stags a small window of opportunity when he was trapped lbw by Josh Clarkson.
That brought Jimmy Neesham (15*) to the crease, but a collapse would not ensue and, with the Volts 265/3 and trailing by 33 runs, the sides agreed to share the points.
It ended a match where the bat dominated, Ben Smith’s 244 the most memorable performance of the match.
The second round of the Plunket Shield, brought to you by Budget, starts on Friday, the Stags to face the Wellington Firebirds in Nelson and the Volts taking on Canterbury in Christchurch.
DAY THREE
It was a red letter day in the Devon Hotel Central Stags' history as they made their highest ever first-class total, the first time the side has exceeded 600.
Opener Ben Smith achieved his highest Plunket Shield score of 244 and George Worker added his third first-class century and highest first-class score, 129.
The Stags have a stranglehold on the match, amassing a record first-innings total of 650-8 declared.
Smith’s maiden double century assured the Stags of a significant lead of at Nelson Park and the remaining contributions hammered home the hosts’ authority in the game, finishing with a first-innings lead of 298.
An SBS Bank Otago Volts revival took an early hit in the final session of the day, with captain Hamish Rutherford and Ryan Duffy departing cheaply in the visitors' second innings. Brad Wilson (16*) and Neil Broom (6*) will resume with the Volts 52-/2 and still 246 runs behind.
The day, though, belonged to Smith. Having resumed at 132, the opener continued to punish the Volts' bowling attack. His fourth-wicket stand of 234 runs with Worker is a record for Central against the Volts – though it wouldn’t be the last record that was broken, as Smith’s 200, coming off 318 balls, helped push the Stags beyond the 600 mark into record territory.
The Stags declared for an opportunity to bowl 18 overs to the Volts before day’s close. The Volts’ day didn’t get better, losing an early wicket, then two down and trailing by 246 when bad light stopped play. Doug Bracewell had struck in the opening over, bowling fellow BLACKCAP Hamish Rutherford, while Josh Clarkson drew the edge from Duffy.
Eight wickets now stand between the Stags and an opening round win.
DAY TWO
Ben Smith’s third first-class century was a welcome landmark for the Devon Hotel Central Stags as they looked to power back against the SBS Bank Otago Volts on day two at Nelson Park.
Smith’s milestone arrived after tea on the second day off 148 balls as the hosts looks to challenge the Volts’ first innings total of 352.
They had dismissed the well-positioned southerners shortly after morning drinks, BLACKCAP Doug Bracewell continuing to prove a handful as he racked up his seventh five-wicket bag in first-class cricket with the wickets of overnight batsmen Nick Beard and debutant Adam Miles.
There was a special moment for the injury-hit Volts' other debutant, Jack Hunter, early in the Stags response when he took his maiden wicket with the new ball, trapping Greg Hay cheaply to have the Stags 45/1 at lunch after 14 overs.
But the Stags certainly had the better of day two of the opening encounter. With their tails up, they capitalised on their strong start to the day by putting on 150 for the second wicket. Smith and Will Young (62) did the damage, eating into the Volts' lead at a decent clip.
Falling victim to Mark Craig, Young’s departure didn’t halt their momentum as Smith then combined with BLACKCAP Ross Taylor for another valuable stand. Not long after the tea break, Smith brought up his century, reaching the milestone off a crisp 148 balls.
Yesterday’s century maker Jimmy Neesham dismissed Taylor two short of his 50, but Smith found a third steady partner in George Worker, who had been in fine touch for New Zealand A over the previous fortnight.
Together the two took their side to stumps, settling in for the night with Smith 132* off 220 balls and Worker 36*, the Stags trailing by just 58 runs at stumps and eying up a first-innings lead.
DAY ONE
The first day of the 2015/16 Plunket Shield, brought to you by Budget Rental, saw Jimmy Neesham show exciting form with the bat, leading the SBS Bank Otago Volts to 330/7 at stumps.
Neesham brought up his fifth first-class century off 105 balls and was eventually dismissed for 136, but had already assured the visitors a respectable first innings total.
The day had started with Hamish Rutherford seizing the momentum for the Volts, maintaining a strike-rate of close to 100. His second wicket partnership of 58 with Ryan Duffy (12) ended the ball before lunch, when the latter was caught and bowled by Tom Bruce.
Rutherford returned from the break on 79, but failed to add to that knock — falling victim to BLACKCAPS teammate Doug Bracewell. Neil Broom also went cheaply and the Volts were 113/4, having lost three wickets for 12 runs.
Devon Hotel Central Stag Blair Tickner
Neesham, though, would arrest the collapse, combining with his captain Sam Wells (62) for a stand of 157 runs. Their contrasting approaches complimented each other nicely, Neesham in attack mode and Wells steadily accumulating.
Greg Hay ended the partnership in the 75th over with the wicket of Wells, but Neesham continued to punish the hosts. He brought up three figures for himself and 300 for the team, while also giving fans plenty of reason to be optimistic about his form ahead of the BLACKCAPS' looming tour of Australia.
It's 200 first-class wickets for Doug Bracewell
With eight overs left in the day, Bracewell finally removed the danger man, picking up his third wicket — and 200th first-class victim — in the process.
Nick Beard (6*) and Adam Miles (8*) will return to the crease on day two, while the Devon Hotel Central Stags will be eager to snag the final three required wickets and begin their reply.
