STATISTICS: Milestones and statistics from round seven of the round five HRV Cup Twenty20 competition.
When the Twenty20 competition was first started back in the 2005-06 season the Canterbury Wizards had two batsmen score half-centuries in three of their first six matches. Now, 45 matches later they have finally managed that feat once more. Rob Nicol scored his sixth fifty while Tom Latham became the first Wizards batsman to score fifty on debut. He is only the seventh player to register a half-century on debut in the HRV Cup.
Both the Canterbury Wizards and Central Stags recorded their highest totals against each other as the Stags hit eight sixes and fifteen fours while the Wizards also smashed eight sixes but managed one extra four as they won with nine balls to spare at Rangiora.
Mathew Sinclair and Ross Taylor became the second and third batsmen to reach the 1,000 run mark in the HRV Cup during the Stags innings joining their skipper, Jamie How, in achieving this milestone. Rob Nicol (979) and Martin Guptill (907) are the nearest other batsmen to this milestone.
Andrew Ellis achieved an unwanted record during the Wizards chase by being dismissed for his fifth golden duck in the HRV Cup. He moved past Carl Frauenstein and Peter Ingram, although Ingram managed his seventh duck during the Stags innings, the most ducks by any batsman.
The Northern Knights total of 111 against the Auckland Aces is the twelfth lowest since the start of the HRV Cup. The Knights have the unenviable record of having scored seven of the thirteen lowest totals.
Martin Guptill didn't quite manage to become the first batsman to register three consecutive half-centuries as the Aces modest chase and the other Auckland batsmen contrived to leave him stranded on 49 not out. Guptill has now scored 330 runs this season with only Ross Taylor with 383 runs having scored more in a season.
Roneel Hira produced another misely spell of bowling for the Aces with the twelve runs he conceded being the most economical four over spell for the Aces. Hira himself had the previous most economical figures when he finished with 4 for 13, also against the Knights, in 2009-10. Martin Bates had also conceded just 13 runs off his four overs twice for the Aces during the Champions Trophy qualifying competition last year.
Bruce Martin also produced his best and most economical figures as he finshed with 3 for 15 off his four overs as the two Aces spinners choked the Northern batsmen.
Gareth Hopkins became just the fifth wicketkeeper to make two stumpings during a match as the Knights batsmen struggled against the Aces bowlers.
The Wellington Firebirds versus Otago Volts match became the fourth match to be abandoned this season. In total twelve matches have been abandoned since the start of the HRV Cup in the 2005-06 season.
