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.
Bowes was the first wicket to fall in Canterbury’s chase, as Nicholls looked to attack in an opportunity as opener.
Earlier at the same venue, Kate Anderson starred with the bat and in the field as the Canterbury Magicians thumped the Otago Sparks by 76 runs in the women’s Super Smash encounter.
– more to come
