2024/25
ROUND THREE
NORTHERN DISTRICTS drew with the OTAGO VOLTS
Seddon Park, Hamilton
28 November-1 December 2024
POINTS IN THIS ROUND:
Northern Districts: 8
Otago Volts: 7
Central Stags: 18
Wellington Firebirds: 6
Auckland Aces: 5
Canterbury: 5
SELECTED MILESTONES
Neil Louw: first-class umpiring debut
Brett Hampton: second first-class century, career best first-class score
Thorn Parkes (below): 1,000 first-class runs
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SNAPSHOT:
As the championship leader after two rounds, and the only undefeated side, Northern Districts had a big opportunity to continue their early momentum against a team that was bottom of the table, yet to get a victory under the belt.
It almost turned out to be business as usual for the Hamilton hosts, but it took Waikato's wet weather to deny them their third victory (and a potential 20-pointer) on the bounce, their lead in the Plunket Shield narrowed by a frustratingly drawn finish.
The result sets up a top of the table showdown against the Central Stags in the next round at Bay Oval, the Stags having meanwhile won comfortably in Napier.
DAY ONE
Northern Districts captain Jeet Raval won the toss on a warm Hamilton morning, Seddon Park having been a happy hunting ground for the hosts - so far.
The Volts made a good start in the first session, the relatively fresh pair of ex-ND prodigy Thorn Parkes and Jacob Cumming (below) seeing off the first hour for no loss against ND's strong pace attack.
They put on 87 for the first wicket, before big Scott Johnston broke through: Parkes (33) caught behind off a short ball.
A few overs later, ND struck again, Kristian Clarke stopping Dale Phillips early, bowling him with the visitors 104/2.
Cumming stayed put, and reached his half century in the session, eight boundaries and a six sprinkled amongst it to reward him for his resilience.
He was still there at lunch, at 118/2, while Dean Foxcroft was getting started. But soon after the break, Cumming was gone, and by tea, the Volts were five down.
Foxcroft had batted through the session to reach a half century before the break, providing important momentum for his side, taking them to 235/5.
Neil Wagner had meanwhile taken the big wicket of Leo Carter early, before Johnston revved up again after tea, with the wickets of Foxcroft (71) and Jake Gibson in the space of four balls in the 76th over - a double wicket maiden.
Max Chu had already fallen so now the Volts were eight down, and the script was back on track for Raval's men.
Luke Georgeson declared the Volts' first innings at 301/9 shortly after reaching their third batting bonus point, Johnston having to settle for 4/51.
Northern stumbled with the bat before stumps, however, losing two quick wickets - both opening batters falling in the first seven overs of the reply.
The hosts would resume at 11/2, an overnight first innings deficit of 290.
DAY TWO
It was Brett Hampton's most destructive day of first-class cricket yet as the super-fit allrounder lived up to his nickname and hammered one of the fastest centuries in his team's history, off 73 rocks.
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Dry, flat conditions were providing plenty of runs in first-class cricket in November, with three notable centuries around the traps on this day - but the quickest was here in Hamilton.
It was the fifth fastest century (by balls) in his team's history, Hampton reaching his century with eight fours and eight sixes.
The 33-year-old went on to a career-best 121 off 86 balls, before Travis Muller stopped the carnage. No doubt it was a catch gratefully received by Foxcroft. ND went on to a good first innings total of 365 off just 82.3 overs, on the back of Hampton's impetus.
The Volts were 58 for no loss in their second innings by the end of the day, trailing overall by six runs.
STATCHAT: Fastest first-class centuries (by balls) for ND:
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66 balls - Barry Cooper v Canterbury at Gisborne in 1986/8
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69 balls - Matthew Maynard v Auckland in Auckland (outer oval), 1991/92
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70 balls - Chris Kuggeleijn v Central Stags at Nelson (Trafalgar Park), 1989/90
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72 balls - Anton Devcich v Central Stags at Nelson Park, Napier in 2017/18
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73 balls - Brett Hampton v Otago Volts at Seddon Park, 2024/25
The national record (for first-class matches where the number of balls is known, also the record fastest by minutes) is held by Lance Cairns, 45 balls, Otago v Wellington, Lower Hutt 1979/80; the international record is 27 balls.
DAY THREE
A good start at the top of the order for the visiting Volts turned into a painful collapse, after the ND wrecking ball swung in.
Opener Thorn Parkes contributed 68 before he was caught behind off Matt Fisher at 150/3, and Foxcroft's half century was vital to propping up their second innings.
He'd reached 53* by stumps, the Volts holding a light overall lead of 139 with just four wickets in hand, still hoping to become the first team this season to inflict a defeat on competition leaders Northern Districts.
But they would need a big effort on the last morning, as Neil Wagner had quickly removed a couple of Foxcroft's partners to have the Volts 203/6 heading into the big final day in Hamilton.
DAY FOUR
ND wrapped up the Otago innings on 231, setting themselves a simple 168-run chase for victory - or so they hoped.
Hampton (3/15) had continued his good all-round game with three more wickets in his account, while Fisher snaffled 4/72. Wicketkeeper Ben Pomare meanwhile celebrated their collective success with five catches in the innings.
Despite losing Henry Cooper on 18, Northern wasn't under much threat in the straightforward chase. Or shouldn't have been, until the weather packed in.
Bharat Popli | PHOTOSPORT
Captain Jeet Raval (43) and Bharat Popli put on 66 for the second wicket to keep things on track, then Robbie O'Donnell came in and smashed a barrage of sixes (either side of a worrying weather interruption) to try to get the job done as quickly as possible.
Smart striking from Robbie O'Donnell | PHOTOSPORT
He'd seen the rain radar. Just to throw a last curve ball or two into the game, the wet weather returned when ND was 145/2 - needing just a further 23 runs, with an ocean of time, otherwise, for the win.
To make it even more dramatic, the covers came off, then went back on again, before the teams got a chance to restart.
Anxious times on Seddon Road.
The covers came off yet again, shortly before 6PM. This time? Well, no. More waiting. And then, with play designated to re-start at 6.50pm and still just 23 runs needed for a result, the bad light set in.
And that was that. A draw. ND still unbeaten, still on top, but missing out on the big 12 extra points that had dangled in front of them.
And the Volts still winless, although not without their chances heading into the midpoint of the competition.
The result sets up a top of the table showdown now for ND, against the Central Stags in the next round at Bay Oval, the Stags having meanwhile won comfortably in Napier. The fourth round is the final round before Christmas, starting on Saturday.
