Volts climb only half the mountain

Rob Walter
Rob Walter
Otago fell short in a brave effort to overhaul a massive victory target and upset an all-star Northern Districts line-up.

Ultimately, the home side had too much strike power and ran through most of the Volts’ lower order to clinch a 90-run win at Bay Oval on Saturday.

Otago was missing wicketkeeper-batsman Max Chu for the chase on the final day.

He picked up a concussion while batting in the first innings and will miss Otago’s next match, against Wellington at the Basin Reserve, beginning on Thursday.

That weakened the line-up but Otago had got into a position where the unlikely seemed possible.

The Volts had been left chasing the game after Joe Carter hit a big century in the first innings to get his side through to 335.

Black Caps duo Neil Wagner and Tim Southee snaffled nine wickets between them to help dismiss Otago for 179.

Northern Districts rattled on to 264 for seven declared to set Otago a huge target of 421.

Given the Volts’ form, that seemed a stretch. But opener Anaru Kitchen (63) and Camden Hawkins (90) put on 109 for the first wicket and the Volts resumed the last day on 186 for two with an opportunity to complete a remarkable fightback.

Hawkins was unbeaten on 76 and the captain, Hamish Rutherford, well set on 28.

They needed to push on but Southee struck early. He found the edge of Rutherford’s bat before he could add to his overnight score.

Nathan Smith came and went quickly, which certainly did not help.

Then Hawkins was bowled looking to hoist a delivery from Joe Walker in the direction of mid-wicket.

That was probably the decisive blow.

Scott Kuggeleijn and Ish Sodhi combined to rip through the lower order.

The Volts had slumped to 247 for nine but Michael Rae (28) and Nick Kelly (82 not out) put on 83 for the final wicket.

It was a courageous effort but the pair only got about halfway up the mountain.

Otago coach Rob Walter said Chu’s absence had dented his side’s prospects.

"It is all what ifs, really. At the end of the day, it was down to more than just not having him," Walter said.

"Chasing 420 was always going to be tough. The history of the game tells you that.

"But certainly at stumps [on day three] there was a feeling we could achieve something pretty special."

In the other games, Canterbury moved to the top of the competition standings following a convincing win against Wellington at Hagley Oval.

Firebirds all-rounder Jamie Gibson (116 not out) collected a maiden first-class century. However, his side could not overhaul Canterbury's first-innings total of 410 for six declared and lost by an innings and 25 runs.

Canterbury paceman Will Williams and Fraser Sheat both took maiden five-wicket bags in the game.

Auckland remains the only other undefeated side after finally shutting down a bold counterattack from Central Districts all-rounder Doug Bracewell.

The former international swatted 102 off 137 balls to reach his third first-class hundred on the final morning at Eden Park Outer Oval.

But the visiting side fell a painful 26 runs short of victory.


 

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