(Cricket news) A maiden first-class century to 20-year-old Curtis Heaphy in his home town of Palmerston North was the Central Stags’ highlight as the defending champions manouevred into a strong position, halfway through their clash with current Plunket Shield leader, the Wellington Firebirds.
Heaphy will resume unbeaten on 109* tomorrow morning (Day Three), alongside Brad Schmulian who raced to a fast fifty in support, reaching 52 not out at stumps off just 72 balls.
It spells trouble for the Firebirds who were earlier bowled out for 295 on the second day, Stags paceman Liam Dudding wrapping things up with 4/67 and the rest of the Stags’ frontline attack each picking up a brace to compensate for the loss of left-arm paceman Ray Toole to injury early in the match.
Set to resume at 262/2 in their first innings, the Stags need only a further 34 runs to overtake the Firebirds’ tally, with six of the possible eight first innings points already in the bag.
The Firebirds have just two bonus points so far, having been bowled out five runs shy of a third batting bonus. Opener Nick Greenwood (54) and keeper-batter Callum McLachlan (51) were the top scorers with no one able to kick on before Ajaz Patel (2/51 in his 100th first-class match) broke the key partnership, and Dudding mopped up the tail.
Invercargill umpire Peter Pasco is on first-class debut in this match.
Earlier this afternoon, Stags captain Greg Hay suffered a first in his lengthy cricket career when a swallow flew in front of him as he was facing a delivery from Logan van Beek, leading to the batsman’s (but not the bird’s) demise.
GENIUS GEORGESON DOES IT AGAIN
Meanwhile in a fast-moving match in seamer-friendly conditions at Molyneux Park, Canterbury’s frustrating first-class summer looks set to continue, with hosts the Otago Volts requiring just a further 101 runs for an outright victory – and two whole days remaining.
The Volts haven’t had a red-ball win all season, but will resume at 36 for no loss in their second innings tomorrow morning in Alexandra. Allrounder Luke Georgeson — the same man who made such a dramatic all-round impact for the Volts at the back end of their Ford Trophy campaign with two bags and a maiden century, got the ball rolling on day one with his maiden Plunket Shield bag of 5/60 as Canterbury was rolled for 144.
The Volts replied with 188, dangerous impact paceman Sean Davey the Canterbury star with 5/41 – his fourth bag on this format.
Both teams took the maximum four bowling bonuses and zero for batting. Canterbury’s second innings wasn’t particularly productive, either — dismissed for 180, with captain Cole McConchie suffering a rare king pair: a golden (first-ball) duck in each innings.
Georgeson (2/23) had got him both times, but the Volts paceman would settle for just two second innings wickets as senior pro Jacob Duffy took command of the attack this time with 4/36.
Canterbury’s last four wickets fell in the last session before Otago openers Jacob Cumming and Dale Phillips (25 not out) took the hosts through to stumps with little trouble.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE FOR ACES?
Jeet Raval’s Northern Districts have moved into a strong position midway through their four-day match in Hamilton as they seek to reclaim the championship lead from the Firebirds in this round.
Their opponent, the Auckland Aces had ended yesterday’s first day in a reasonable position themselves, after paceman Danru Ferns grabbed a career-best 6/62 at Seddon Park.
Only first drop Bharat Popli (43) and senior batsman Joe Carter (124 — his ninth first-class century, and seventh for ND) had put up a fight before he claimed both those wickets as well, as part of his second bag at first-class level.
Ben Lister had created all the pressure that allowed Ferns to cash in, Lister bowling seven maidens in his 16 overs for a tight return of 2/15.
Keeper Cam Fletcher had taken a brilliant, diving, leg-side one-handed catch off Lister to dismiss Northern captain Raval for no score, among his three catches in the innings, while Aces captain Robbie O’Donnell was also on fire in the slips, with a further three catches in support of his bowlers Ferns and Jock McKenzie.
They’d all helped to bowl out their hosts for 247 on the first afternoon, pocketing the full set of four bowling bonuses, while ND took only one batting point from the four available to them.
Yet by the end of the second day, the boot was on the other foot. Northern holds a 215-run overall advantage with eight wickets in hand, in a strong position to dictate terms on the penultimate day, tomorrow.
The Aces got themselves into this predicament thanks to a lacklustre first innings, dismissed for 158 in just 51.5 overs — shortfall of 89. Kristian Clarke (3/76), Matt Fisher (3/23) and Brett Hampton (3/18) all made an impact with the ball for Northern who ultimately took five first-innings points overall, to the Aces’ four.
And had it not been for a swashbuckling, career-best knock of 65 from number 10 batter Harjot Johal – playing in just his second match for the Aces, it could have been a lot worse for the visitors.
Johal smacked five boundaries and four sixes to top-score before Fisher claimed his wicket to end the Auckland innings.
Left-armer Lister has made two early breakthrough in the Northern second innings, but the Aucklanders will need to keep that up tomorrow morning with Raval (unbeaten on 60*) and Joe Carter (34 not out) set to resume a 90-run stand for the third wicket with an overall lead already of 215, and eight wickets in hand.
