ROUND TWO
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS lost to CANTERBURY by 294 runs
Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington
31 October-3 November 2021
Toss: Wellington Firebirds who bowled
Total Points this round
Canterbury 19
Wellington Firebirds 3
SELECTED MILESTONES
Nick Greenwood - first-class debut (Wellington Firebirds)
Cam Fletcher - sixth first-class century (fifth for Canterbury)
Nathan Smith - third five-wicket bag (second for Firebirds)
Tom Latham - 22nd first-class century
DAY FOUR
Even a dash of rain at the tea break on the final day - with the Wellington Firebirds nine down, after a sudden tumult of wickets before the break - couldn't stop Canterbury chalking up its first outright win of the season this afternoon.
Now their victims must prepare for a rematch against the same team, at the same venue, the Cello Basin Reserve, in Round Three starting this Sunday, 7 November.
Canterbury's 294-run win was its ninth biggest margin of all time, and sweeps them to a five-point lead over their hosts, the former early leaders on the Plunket Shield points table.
Good to see @CanterburyCrick's bowlers have been working on their one-handed grabs! @Matthenry014 with this beaut as his side claimed a 294-run win over @cricketwgtninc in the #PlunketShield 🏏
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 3, 2021
📲 Highlights and scorecard at the NZC App or visit https://t.co/3YsfR1Y3Sm pic.twitter.com/pgbYY5KlA1
DAY THREE
Canterbury made the most of moving day with both bat and ball at the Basin in Round Two.
BLACKCAP Tom Latham led the way with his second first-class century in as many games, backing up his century in the opening round at Hagley Oval last week with an unbeaten 127 not out at the Cello Basin Reserve, while partner Chad Bowes was dismissed on 95 after their definitive 223-run opening stand.
It was Latham's 22nd first-class century, and seventh for Canterbury in the New Zealand championship.
The dominant top order performance allowed Canterbury to declare at 230/1, setting the Firebirds a mammoth target of 449 to win.
By stumps, current competition leaders the Firebirds were already in strife at 30/4, including nightwatchman Ben Sears, with a monumental task in front of them to save the match against the defending champions.
DAY TWO
Canterbury's Mr. Consistent Cam Fletcher had powered on form his overnight score of 87* to his sixth first-class century (his fifth for Canterbury).
Fletcher had gone on to 110 before he mistimed Nathan Smith to give the brisk allrounder his fourth wicket.
Four quickly became another five-for, Smith backing up his stunning debut last week against the Volts with a bag of 5-51 against the defending champions today. It was the third bag of his first-class career and second this season in his new Firebirds colours, in consecutive games.
By stumps, the Firebirds had a big job ahead of them, however, after a collapse in reply. They will resume at 135/7 tomorrow morning, still trailing Canterbury's first innings tally of 379/9 declared by 244 runs and with all their top batsmen already back in the pavilion.
Canterbury paceman Fraser Sheat is sitting on overnight figures of 3-18.
DAY ONE
It was a day of two halves for Canterbury in the capital as the defending Plunket Shield champions embarked on their first away match of the season, looking to get their first win on the board.
The Wellington Firebirds - coming off the only outright of Round One the week before, were ready for the them, however and now they had quick Ben Sears back in the black baggy for his first appearance of the summer.
It was Sears who got the huge wicket of Tom Latham at 37/3, with Latham coming off a century at Hagley in the opening round.
Things escalated and the red and blacks were in a tough spot before lunch at 56/5, but Henry Nicholls (below) and Cam Fletcher led a solid recovery.
But just when the mood was brightening in the away viewing room, Canterbury suffered a late blow on the first day with the loss of BLACKCAP Nicholls on 97.
He was bowled by Firebirds man of the moment Nathan Smith, who had grabbed a stunning bag on Firebirds debut in the first round.
Nicholls and Fletcher had put on 151 for the sixth wicket until the breakthrough, and the visitors will resume on Day Two at 246/6 with Fletcher on 87* needing just four more runs for a second bonus point and Smith 3-31.
