Domestic Cricket Guide: Plunket Shield #8
Sizzle, You're On Fire
Rob O'Donnell
Each season, there's a few youngins' who pile up the runs and announce themselves as breakout domestic cricket stars. O'Donnell is very much in that category and he continued a strong Plunket Shield campaign with 87 and 46 batting at No.3 for Auckland against Otago.
O'Donnell almost top-scored in either innings, his second-dig 46 was bettered by Jeet Raval's 47 and since the Plunket Shield started again in early February, O'Donnell has hit two centuries and two 50s.
Lachie Ferguson
The Auckland quick bowler finished with an 8-wicket-haul against Otago as he picked up 3/47 off 15 overs and a clutch 5/68 off 14.3 overs. Ferguson's 5 wickets in the second innings helped dismiss Otago for 207 in pursuit of 218 to win, 4 of those wickets were in Otago's top-six including key batsmen Brad Wilson, Anaru Kitchen and Derek de Boorder.
Craig Smith
Also enjoying a hefty haul was Otago's Craig Smith, a 31-year-old left-arm seamer who took 3/55 off 13 overs and 4/35 off 15.5 overs. Smith knocked the top off Auckland's top order, picking up both Auckland openers and then sent O'Donnell back to the sheds 13 runs short of a century. Smith then did the opposite in the second innings as he picked up Auckland's tail, not allowing Michael Bates, Lachie Ferguson and Matt Quinn to wag.
Scott Borthwick
Englishman Scott Borthwick continues to love his time down in Aotearoa as he hit his second century in the Plunket Shield and his third 50+ score in three innings. Borthwick was the only notable score in Wellington's first innings, as he played anchor scoring at a strike-rate of 42.80, scoring 110*.
Hamish Bennett | Andrew Ellis
A large reason for Wellington's collapse was Andrew Ellis who took 4/33 off 22 overs as he ripped through Wellington's middle order, sending Michael Poillard, Tom Blundell, Fraser Colson and Jeetan Patel back to the sheds all in just over 10 overs. Ellis took 1/20 off 6.1 overs in the second innings along with Hamish Bennett's 5/54 off 17 overs.
Daniel Flynn | Bharat Popli | Daryl Mitchell
Northern Districts were treated to some fine batting entertainment as they watched Daniel Flynn hit 158 and Bharat Popli hit 172 in their first innings. Popli especially is in the form of his life and is arguably the best batsman in the country; this was his third century of the summer and 66 in the second innings saw him hit his seventh 50+ score in 2016.
Daryl Mitchell also passed 50 runs in both innings, hitting 55 and then whacking 72 off 49 balls in the Knights' second innings. Mitchell has enjoyed a strong back-end to the season as he's scored at least a half-century in every game this year.
Tom Bruce
Central Districts' batsman Tom Bruce wanted to get in on the act and he did a fine job of it, almost guiding the Stags home chasing 498. Bruce hit 166* off 233 balls as the Stags were dismissed for 382 with Bruce stranded not out.
Solid
Ryan Duffy
Otago opener Ryan Duffy played his first Plunket Shield game of the summer and hit 90* as he carried his bat through an extremely average first innings with the bat for Otago. Duffy anchored the innings and scored 90 of Otago's 177 runs.
Jacob Duffy | Jack Hunter | Christi Viljoen
Otago put together a solid bowling display on the board first up with Jack Hunter taking 3/74 off 17 overs and Christi Viljoen taking 3/44 off 13 overs. Jacob Duffy then got in on the action in their second innings with the ball, taking 3/47 off 13 overs while Viljoen who plays international cricket for Namibia took 2/28 off 10 overs in the second dig to finish with a 5-wicket-haul for the match.
Derek de Boorder
Otago's wicket-keeper Derek de Boorder almost guiding Otago to victory as he hit 81 off 76 balls with Otago falling 9 runs short of Auckland's target of 218. De Boorder hit 4 sixes and this was his third 50+ score in three Plunket Shield games, his fourth 50+ score in his last five games.
Colin de Grandhomme
Lord CDG got a pair of ducks with the bat, however he did put in a solid shift with the ball taking 3/29 off 12.5 overs opening the bowling in the first innings along with 2/38 off 12 overs in the second.
Leo Carter | Michael Davidson
Canterbury's openers Leo Carter and Michael Davidson both passed 50 as Canterbury declared early, ensure that a result was in play. Carter hit 53, pushing the 21-year-olds First Class average up to 32.72 and 23-year-old Davidson hit 73* which is his second half-century in only four Plunket Shield games.
Michael Papps
Wellington had to rely on one batsman in both innings, with Michael Papps' 51 the only score over 30 in their second innings and this was Papps' 50th 50 in First Class cricket.
Kyle Jamieson
The Cantabs continue to get great value out of up and coming seamer Kyle Jamieson as he took 3/57 off 17 overs and 2/20 off 11 overs. Since the Plunket Shield swung back into gear, Jamieson has taken 2 wickets in six of eight innings'.
Ian McPeake | Jeetan Patel
With Canterbury needing 184 to win, Ian McPeake and Jeetan Patel both took 3 wickets and Cantabury were dismissed for 129. McPeake took 3/43 off 11 overs and the wizardry of Patel saw him take 3/20 off 7 overs in a great bowling display from the Firebirds, which also saw Brent Arnel (1/26 off 13 overs) and Anurag Verma (2/30 off 6) chip in as well.
Liam Dudding | Ajaz Patel
Despite ND's hefty first innings, Liam Dudding did manage to take 3/119 off 30 overs and he actually took the wickets of both Flynn and Popli. Ajaz Patel led the Stag's bowling effort in the second innings with the left-arm spinner taking 4/123 off 23 overs, with Patel taking 29 wickets this year in Plunket Shield cricket.
Mitch Renwick | Bevan Small
Mitch Renwick and Bevan Small played supporting roles in either innings for CD. Renwick hit 69 in his third First Class game while Small fought valiantly batting at No.7 for CD in their second innings, hitting 76 off 122 balls as he and Bruce took the Stags from 176/6 to 353/7.
Dean Brownlie
Flynn's opening parter Dean Brownlie hit 65 off 82 balls in the second dig which pushed the Knights towards a declaration.
Anton Devcich | Joe Walker
ND's spinners were excellent, with Anton Devcich and 23-year-old off-spinner Joe Walker both taking 4 wickets as they spun the Knights to victory. Walker is getting an opportunity with both Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi on BLACKCAPS duty and he's responded to the challenge strongly, taking 7 wickets in two games.