Win ‘would be my proudest moment in cricket’

Veteran Otago batsman Neil Broom prepares to avoid a delivery during a training session at Logan...
Veteran Otago batsman Neil Broom prepares to avoid a delivery during a training session at Logan Park yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh
Neil Broom is the only survivor from the last Otago team to host a one-day final and his memory is pretty sketchy.

But the experienced right-hander is certain about one thing — if the Volts win the Ford Trophy final against Wellington on Saturday it will be a career highlight.

That is saying something, considering the 35-year-old has played international cricket and been part of some tremendous Otago teams throughout the years.

The 2007-08 one-day championship team sticks out and the 15-game winning streak in twenty20 cricket in 2012-13 was another memorable achievement. There were a couple of trips to India for the Champions League as well.

But a win on Saturday would trump it all for the 15-year veteran.

"I’m pretty pumped up and it is still three or four days out," Broom said.

"It would be a great story, wouldn’t it? It would be my proudest moment in cricket if we get over the line."

Really?

"Easy. Just from where we’ve come from to where we are.

"The boys have really turned it around from the last couple of years and it is just a great feeling to be part of it, actually."

The Volts started the season poorly with back-back-back losses in the first-class competition. But with Broom and experienced batsman Anaru Kitchen rejoining the squad for the limited-overs formats, the team is a lot stronger.

Broom has scored some key runs and made a couple of cracking run-outs as well.The Volts have had to battle to win most of the seven games they have won and that reflects the team’s tenacity.

They are winning the sort of games they were losing last season and Broom reckons a good portion of it is down to the team just enjoying their cricket more.

"I think the group is pretty tight and we are really enjoying other people’s successes. I’m not sure that was the case last year because it was hard to get a win in the first place and there was nothing to feed off."

Broom said the team was closer off the park than in previous seasons and he put that down to Mark Craig, Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy, who "put it on themselves to lead the group off the park".

"I think their contribution has been massive as well as the coaches."

You cannot hit the ball for four or six armed just with culture, though. And one of the main differences for Otago this season has been the effort with the bat.

The team has stayed in games longer by preserving wickets at the top. Broom, while he has not posted a monster score this season, has been a key contributor to that game plan.

That base has allowed the likes of Josh Finnie, Michael Rippon and Christi Viljoen to close the innings with the confidence the team has runs in the bank.

Otago has also found ways to win the game with the ball as well. Duffy and Matt Bacon have been the main wicket-takers, but Smith has been terrific at the death.

"If you want to get to the finals in a competition, everyone has to pull their weight.

"But it is different when you go out there with a confident batting order and everyone is hitting the ball well."

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