2024/25
ROUND TWO
OTAGO VOLTS drew with WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
19-22 November 2024
POINTS IN THIS ROUND:
Otago Volts: 7
Wellington Firebirds: 7
Northern Districts: 18
Auckland Aces: 4
Central Stags: 2
Canterbury: 20 (maximum points achieved)
SELECTED MILESTONES
All images: PHOTOSPORT
Sam Mycock: first-class debut
Muhammad Abbas: 1000 first-class runs
Nick Kelly: century in each innings, sixth and seventh first-class centuries
Nick Kelly: highest first-class score for Wellington Firebirds
Dale Phillips: seventh first-class century
SNAPSHOT:
Defending title-holders the Wellington Firebirds and hosts the Otago Volts were both still looking to get their first four-day win under the belt in this round, but the weather did not play ball for long enough.
Dunner stunner? There was still some stunning cricket, with some individual highlights for both teams. Wellington Firebirds captain Nick Kelly became the latest to score a century in each innings of a Plunket Shield match, while Dale Phillips delivered for the Volts yet again.
Centuries in each innings for Wellington
— Francis Payne (@FPayne100) November 22, 2024
Robert Vance v CD 1988/89
Martin Crowe v Canterbury 1992/93
Jason Wells v CD 1999/00
Jesse Ryder v CD 2012/13
Luke Ronchi v ND 2012/13
Michael Bracewell v Auckland 2020/21
Nick Kelly v Otago 2024/25#plunketshield
DAY ONE
The Volts won the toss and sent in their visitors, and the first session duly delivered four wickets.
But that did not stop the defending title-holders the Wellington Firebirds getting off to a strong start, recovering and reaching 339/6 at University of Otago Oval by the end of the day, with captain Nick Kelly leading the charge and unbeaten on 154 not out.
It was already Kelly's highest score for the capital - although he still had some way to go to better his overall first-class career best of 234 not out, set when he was playing for his opponents, the Volts, in 2021/22.
Elegant rising star Muhammad "Mo" Abbas meanwhile chalked up his first 1,000 career runs before he has even turned 21, with his birthday next week.
And allrounder Logan Van Beek (68) would chalk up 1,000 runs for the Firebirds chapter of his career as he shared a 135-run stand with Kelly for the sixth wicket.
The Firebirds had taken three of the four batting points by close of play, while the Volts had two bowling points.
DAY TWO
Kelly began the day unbeaten on 154*, and would reach 161 before Travis Muller finally had him caught, at 350/9.
The Firebirds' first innings account was closed soon after, at 357, and it was the Volts' turn for a bat on their home turf.
After a rain-interrupted, stop-start afternoon, by stumps they had picked off almost half of the first-innings deficit at 173/5, trailing by 184 heading into the third morning.
Dale Phillips was set to resume with a century dangling in his sights, unbeaten on 86*, while his side needed a further 27 runs for their first batting bonus.
The Firebirds could meanwhile add two bowling points from the second day to their kitty of four batting points.
DAY THREE
The second innings yet to get started by the end of the final day, the two teams were locked in a fairly even contest.
Having resumed on 86 not out, Dale Phillips stood up for the Volts yet again to produce his seventh first-class century for the home team highlight of the penultimate day.
It made sure the hosts stayed in the fight as he top-scored for them with a knock of 135, including a dozen boundaries and two sixes.
A seventh First Class Century for Dale Phillips today. Great knock DP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1LypvtDAgg
— Otago Cricket (@OtagoCricket) November 20, 2024
But it was also another day, and match, in which frequent rain interruptions tested the batters' concentration.
The Volts had reached 299/8 by tea, just 58 runs behind the Firebirds on the first innings - but that proved to be the last action for Day Three, as more rain set in.
Keeper-batter Max Chu continued his good form for the team, unbeaten by then on 58*, helping put on a century stand with Phillips for the sixth wicket (105).
He would go on to an unbeaten 62* before Luke Georgeson declared eight down, the following morning, at 303/8 - conceding a 54-run first innings deficit.
DAY FOUR
There was to be no winner in Dunedin, time running out and ticking down to a tea-time handshake.
But first, there was some special business afoot for Wellington Firebirds whose captain, Nick Kelly, achieved the relatively uncommon feat of a century in each innings.
Kelly's unbeaten 101* off 146 balls in the second innings on the last afternoon added to his capital career-best 161 in the first innings in this match at University of Otago Oval.
Shortly after the last of the bat-waving had been completed, with time running out to achieve a result, the captains shook hands at tea, the match declared a draw.
Both teams took seven first innings points from their encounter.
The Volts and defending champion Firebirds are still the only two teams still looking for their first win ahead of the third of the eight four-day rounds, the next matches starting on Thursday next week.
The Firebirds travel to Napier to play the Stags at McLean Park; the Aces will be at home in Auckland against Canterbury; and Northern Districts remain at home in Hamilton to host the Volts.
