Domestic Cricket Diary - Plunket Shield #1
Central Stags vs Otago Volts
The Basics
The Stags and Volts played out a draw in Napier as a big double hundy to Ben Smith helped CD score 650 runs while also limiting the chances of a result. This was in response to Otago's first up effort of 352 runs with Hamish Rutherford (79) and Sam Wells (62) chipping in to support Jimmy Neesham who found some form ahead of the Australian series with 131. Doug Bracewell was the chief destroyer for the Stags as he picked up his first 5-wicket bag for the season which was followed by a mammoth innings from Smith.
Smith almost doubled his previous high-score of 133, with his 244 runs including 29 boundaries and a six, as he worked his way to his third First Class century. The Stags also enjoyed some runs from Will Young (62), Tom Bruce (71) and 129 from George Worker which is a great start for Worker after he enjoyed some game time with the BLACKCAPS in Africa.
Neil Broom hit 131 with Brad Wilson also chipping in with 83 as Otago batted out the remainder of the game.
BLACKCAPS Factor
The work of Neesham and Bracewell in the first innings is what catches the eye about this game with regards to the national team. Both players needed to take some form with them on the plane to Australia as Neesham's been presented with an opportunity thanks to Corey Anderson's injury while Bracewell is still hunting for a place in the best BLACKCAPS bowling attack after being overtaken by Matt Henry.
Mark Craig picked up two wickets, despite conceding 164 runs which isn't the best preparation for a tour to Australia but he bowled 39 overs and was on the field so that's good enough for me. Ross Taylor only got one chance to bat and did alright, scoring 48 before slashing at a wide delivery from Neesham only to get an edge while a century to George Worker is perhaps the most interesting low key performance of the game. Worker could work his way into contention for a Test cap if he keeps scoring runs in the Plunket Shield after many people pigeon holed him as a limited overs option.
Hamish Rutherford also scored runs which is handy, although I'm still not sold on him as a Test batsman.
Ponderings
Will Young enjoyed a very strong season last time around and he got off to a great start this season which will only increase the hype surrounding the youngster, lol. I've got Young as Aotearoa's next prodigiously talented batsman, cut from a similar cloth as Kane Williamson and if Young keeps this up he will be hard to ignore.
There was plenty of newbies on display here with unfamiliar names like Tickner and Clarkson featuring in the Stags bowling attack while new names like Miles, Hunter and Rae did the same for the Volts. The Volts do look to have a fresh bowling attack which won't be helped by Neesham and Craig's departure, although the loss of Craig is offset by Nick Beard's left-arm tweakers.
ND Knights vs Wellington Firebirds
The Basics
The Northern Districts Knights got off to a fast start against Wellington, dismissing them for 267 thanks to 5/56 off 15 overs from Tim Southeee. Luke Ronchi's 115 off 112 balls and 53 from Tom Blundell helped salvage some respect for the Firebirds, however the damage was mostly done and the Knights worked their way to 429 all out with Daniel Flynn hitting a century (102), Kane Williamson scoring 65 while Bharat Popli (91) and BJ Watling (89) held things down in the middle order.
Wellington got rid of the Knights' lower order with Dane Hutchinson dismissing four of the last five batsmen, including a hat-trick. This game did end up in a draw despite the work of Trent Boult who took 5/97 off 26 overs as Wellington held firm thanks to 93 from Stephen Murdoch and 53 from Michael Pollard to finish the game with 409 runs on the board.
BLACKCAPS Factor
The Knights have a large BLACKCAPS contingent and they all performed well as Southee and Boult took 5-fors in either innings while Williamson and Watling each passed the half-century mark. These four should be doing this at the domestic level, such is their ability so it's nothing more than what we should expect. Mitchell Santner had a quiet game though after a few impressive performances for NZ 'A' as he went wicket-less and scored 33 runs, granted the pitch was quite green.
Both BLACKCAPS keepers were on display here with Watling and Ronchi each scoring runs which is a great sign.
Ponderings
Craig Cahcopa's back in Wellington?
Joel Baker and Scott Kuggeleijn are going to be key men for the Knights as they will be asked to fill the void left by Southee and Boult.
I look forward to seeing how the veterans for Wellington go this season. There does appear to be a lack of a player who oozes x-factor or class, but they've got the likes of Jeetan Patel, Michael Papps, Luke Woodcock and Brent Arnel who will make them a tough team to beat up.
Dane Hutchinson might be the new Mark Gillespie.
Auckland Aces vs Canterbury
The Basics
The only win of the round came as the Auckland Aces defeated defending champions Canterbury. The Aces rolled Canterbury for 149 first up with Mitchell McClenaghan taking 4/28 off 13 overs while Matt Quinn (3/34 off 13) and Michael Bates (2/25 off 12) were also impressive before Auckland's batsmen did enough to put them in a strong position. They didn't take the by the balls though as they were all out for 316 with Colin de Grandhomme (70) and Brad Cachopa (61) the only notable run-scorers.
Auckland's wickets were shared amonsgt Canterbury's bowlers with Andrew Ellis the pick of the bunch with 3/54 off 25 overs. Canterbury tried valiantly to get themselves back in the contest but could only manage 321 runs with Leo Carter and Ken McClure passing the 50 run mark as they set Auckland a target of 155. Again, it was Auckland's seamers who did the trick here with Quinn taking 4/81 off 28 and McClenaghan grabbing 3/68 before Martin Guptill's 84 off 94 balls wrapped up the win.
BLACKCAPS Factor
Tom Latham struggled to find some form as he scored 18 and 21, both times falling victim to straight deliveries that hit his pads. Martin Guptill scored some runs though which is good while Matt Henry could only manage 2/76 off 26 overs in the first innings and went at 4 runs an over courtesy of Guptill's game-clinching knock.
We want guys on the fringes of the Test team to be demanding selection and Mitch McClenaghan started his Plunket Shield campaign off precisely how he would have wanted as he took 7/106 for the match. McClenaghan took wickets by attacking both off-stump and the batsmen as he made the most of favourable conditions while also using his signature short ball to bully batsmen.
Ponderings
Both Matt Quinn and Brad Cachopa are two Aucklanders who I'll be keeping close tabs on as they will be eager to push for higher honours. Quinn, like McClenaghan, took 7 wickets for the match and is a seamer who should be in the BLACKCAPS mix soon while Cachopa will be eyeing up a reserve wicket-keeping spot when Luke Ronchi gets too old. They are both capable of making the jump, but they'll need to pile up the runs and wickets this season.
Colin de Grandhomme is a great domestic cricketer. He'll also only ever be a domestic cricketer which is a bummer.
Roneel Hira is opening again for Canterbury. We'll see how this goes throughout the season but he's on the board with 14 and 25.
Robbie O'Donnell is similar to Will Young, although he isn't quite there yet as he doesn't have the same CV that Young has in domestic cricket. O'Donnell batted at no.3 in this game though and if he's there for the whole season, we'll have a good idea of what he can/can't do.