ROUND 1 of 10
CANTERBURY defeated WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS by 6 wickets - bonus point win
20 October 2024
Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington
Points: Canterbury 5, Wellington Firebirds 0
SELECTED MILESTONES
- Liam Dudding: Wellington Firebirds debut (previously Central Stags)
- Angus McKenzie: first List A five-wicket bag (previous best 3/66)
All images: PHOTOSPORT
The first wicket of the 2024/25 season took mere minutes to arrive, thanks to irrepressible young allrounder Zak Foulkes defending Ford Trophy champions Canterbury picking up where they had left off.
Foulkes, rising all-round star and a T20i BLACKCAP at just 22, already with a County stint under his belt too, did the honours with just the second ball of the day (and summer) at the Cello Basin Reserve, dismissing Tim Robinson for no score at 0/1.
Someone must have told the visitors that a good game is a quick game, because the match, a six-wicket win to Canterbury, was over in a hurry.
Angus McKenzie’s maiden five-wicket bag ensured that Canterbury rolled the Wellington Firebirds for just 129 in 40.2 overs, then Canterbury smashed the chase in just 22.3 overs. Bonus point sorted.
McKenzie’s first two wickets were off consecutive balls, the first a key moment in the game that broke Troy Johnson and Nick Greenwood’s steady 58-run stand for the second wicket — a partnership that had had the hosts recovering nicely from their shock start.
McKenzie went on to brilliant figures of 5/14, and there was little resistance from the rest of the Wellington order, bar a short period of doggedness from Mo Abbas (18) and Callum McLachlan (29).
Foulkes finished with a decent 3/24 off his seven that will be in danger of being overlooked, but was impressive.
When it was Wellington’s turn to defend, ex-Central Stags paceman, now Firebirds debutant Liam Dudding opened the local attack for the first time (coincidentally alongside another ex-Stag in Adam Milne), but came in for some cane in one of his tougher days at the office.
Logan van Beek (above) and Milne picked up a couple of wickets each, but there was always fat chance of defending 129.
Despite a dramatic wee middle order collapse, clinical Chad Bowes (48 not out) and Matt Boyle (45 not out) ultimately made short work of Canterbury’s win.
Canterbury now heads home to Hagley Oval to host the Otago Volts in Wednesday’s second round, pitting two first-round winners against each other.
The Firebirds meanwhile meet the Auckland Aces at Bay Oval, which is an ND venue but will constitute a ‘home match’ for the Aces who were unable to use their own facilities.
Job done | PHOTOSPORT
