ROUND 2 of 10
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS defeated AUCKLAND ACES by 4 wickets - bonus point win
23 October 2024
Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui (Aces' home game)
Points: Wellington Firebirds 5, Auckland Aces 0
SELECTED MILESTONES
- Yahya Zeb: Wellington Firebirds debut, List A debut
- Tim Robinson: Career best List A score (72 not out)
The Wellington Firebirds bounced back from their opening-round misfire with an ultimately comfortable victory over the Auckland Aces in the second round of the 2024/25 Ford Trophy.
The match was played at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval in the ND heartland, but technically an Aces home fixture, with their regular Auckland home grounds unavailable this week.
Firebirds captain Nick Kelly sent the 'hosts' in on a pleasant day for cricket, the Aces fresh off a win against the Stags in New Plymouth but in for a rude awakening now in the Mount.
Nathan Smith had just got his first BLACKCAPS call-up | PHOTOSPORT
Wellington soon removed both opening batters, then had first-round centution Will O'Donnell out for just 15 at 49/3 - a big maiden wicket on debut for former Aucklander and Auckland A rep, Yahya Zeb.
After an expensive first-round debut for his new side, paceman Liam Dudding found his length in this game and formed a tough opening combo with newly selected BLACKCAP, Nathan Smith - who that morning had been named in the New Zealand white-ball squad to tour Sri Lanka.
PHOTOSPORT
Dudding was back to his best, conceding just nine runs from 6.1 overs, and taking two wickets. The squeeze on the Aces intensified when legspinner Peter Younghusband dismantled the middle order, dismissing Jimmy Neesham for his second egg on the trot, and, removing another dangerous allrounder in Jock McKenzie for just seven in his previous over.
Mike Sclanders clung on for a top score of 35 but really none of the Aces fired, and they found themselves rolled for 140 in just 43.1 overs, with all of the Firebirds' attack getting in the wickets column.
It was advantage Firebirds and, despite some sizzling stuff of their own with the ball from McKenzie (2/43) and Lockie Ferguson (3/33, below), one man stood in their way.
PHOTOSPORT
Opener Tim Robinson looked unrattled by the quick loss of a steady string of partners as the Firebirds sunk from 9/1 to 44/5, giving the Aces a good sniff - if they could just get him out, as well.
Strong Robinson was in no mood for that, and carried his bat to the last ball in the 31st over for an unbeaten 72 off 95 balls, his career-best one-day score.
It was a sensible innings, seven boundaries among his runs and he found the necessary support from Nathan Smith who contributed 27 to their 63-run sixth-wicket stand as the Firebirds moved in for the win.
