At Molyneux Park, Alexandra: Otago Volts 171-5 from 20 overs (Hamish Rutherford 52 from 39 balls, Glenn Phillips 38 from 30, Max Chu 34 not out from 18, Dale Phillips 32no from 16; Zac Foulkes 3-33 from 4 overs) lost to Canterbury Kings 175-6 from 18.5 overs (Henry Nicholls 59 from 33 balls, Cole McConchie 39 from 31) by four wickets. Click here for full scoreboard
What’s better than a solo tip-toeing boundary catch? A two-person diving one.
Black Caps batter Henry Nicholls showed excellent judgement and agility to help dismiss dangerman Hamish Rutherford for the Canterbury Kings against the Otago Volts in their men’s Super Smash match in Alexandra on Wednesday.
But an over later, the visiting side at Molyneux Park produced an ever better grab to send Llew Johnson on his way as the Volts made 171-5 in their 20 overs batting first.
Johnson hit pace bowler Michael Rae out to the midwicket boundary, but alert fielder Chad Bowes leapt to grab the ball in both hands, and – as he exited the field of play mid-air – tossed it to team-mate Bevon-John Jacobs to complete the dismissal.
It was an eventful spell in the field for Bowes, who has played 17 white-ball internationals for the Black Caps.
He dropped a tough chance at point from Rutherford off the second ball of the afternoon delivered by Will O’Rourke – with the former NZ test opener making 52 from 39 balls before Nicholls’ catch off the bowling of Cole McConchie – and another difficult chance in the outfield, while also taking one to get rid of Black Caps star Glenn Phillips when he was looking ominous in getting to 38 from 30 balls.
Photosport
Henry Nicholls and the Canterbury Kings celebrate during their Super Smash T20 match versus the Otago Volts at Alexandra’s Molyneux Park.
Otago’s tally was usefully boosted by 25 runs taken from the last over by Max Chu and Dale Phillips off Angus McKenzie and Bowes was the first wicket to fall in Canterbury’s chase.
Nicholls (59 from 33 balls), as Bowes’ opening partner, ensured that Canterbury were always ahead of any taxing problems with the required run-rate.
He got later assistance from Cole McConchie (39 from 31), who was dropped by Dean Foxcroft when on two, and struggling for the same fluency as his batting partner.
There was a little indecision among three fielders as the ball was coming down in the middle of their triangle, and while Foxcroft volunteered to be the catcher, he couldn’t get his hands securely on it.
The big moment
Rutherford and Glenn Phillips had put on 65 for the third wicket in just under nine overs, and the current Black Caps allrounder was starting to find the middle of the bat with his trademark power before perishing.
Best with the bat
Nicholls relished the chance to bat in the power play, finding the boundary regularly with an array of strokes.
He struck nine fours and a six and will have relished getting more runs to his name with the test series versus South Africa only a month away.
Best with the ball
Zac Foulkes is a highly-regarded young seamer, and his reputation will be increased after capturing big wickets of Dean Foxcroft and Glenn Phillips while taking 3-33 from his full complement.
The big picture
Canterbury climbed to second spot with the win, behind leaders Wellington Firebirds, while the Volts dropped to 1-2 in the competition – along with a no-result – to have them presently outside the playoff spots.
