Not the finish to the summer the Otago Volts were after.
The Volts were thumped by an innings and 40 runs against the Central Stags in their Plunket Shield game at McLean Park in Napier yesterday.
It was a slog for the Volts who were chasing the Stags’ total of 580 in reply to Otago’s first innings of 309.
Other than Travis Muller (71), the Volts batters struggled to get going in the second innings, as Stags bowler Liam Dudding finished the second innings with career-best figures of five for 32.
But Stags captain Greg Hay was the story of the game as he heads towards retirement.
He compiled had a sensational knock of 179 to see his side home.
The Volts started the day on 78 for three with nightwatchman Muller and Jamal Todd resuming things yesterday.
Muller went on to product his best first-class knock of 71 runs and anchor the Volts innings.
He added nine boundaries to his innings before falling victim to a Dudding lbw later in the day.
Todd (10) was caught behind before lunch and Luke Georgeson was bowled by Black Cap spinner Ajaz Patel on one.
Max Chu had a nice cameo of 19 before he was bowled by Black Cap Blair Tickner.
Jake Gibson, added to the line up as a concussion substitute for Dale Phillips who scored a century in the first innings.
He made a nice contribution of 35 off 49 balls. He played some nice shots to the boundary before Dudding trapped him for an lbw.
Ben Lockrose and Jacob Duffy came and went without adding to the scoreboard leaving the Volts all out for 231.
In the other games, the Wellington Fire were crowned Plunket Shield champions.
They forced a draw against Northern Districts at Seddon Park after day four was washed out.
Tom Blundell guided the first innings with his knock of 103 and led the Firebirds to 323. Northern Districts replied with 362 and the Firebirds finished their second innings on 127 for four in the 36th over to win the shield.
Canterbury beat Auckland by six wickets.
OTAGO
First innings 309
CENTRAL
First innings 580
OTAGO
Second innings
T Parkes b Clark 40
J Cumming c Clarkson b Dudding 14
D Foxcroft b Clarkson 16
T Muller lbw b Dudding 71
J Todd c Cleaver b Dudding 10
M Chu b Tickner 15
L Georgeson lbw b Dudding 35
B Lockrose c Bruce b Dudding 0
A Hazeldine not out 6
J Duffy b Tickner
Extras (2b, 12lb, 5nb) 10
Total (10 wckts in 87.2overs) 231
Fall: 1-22, 2-72, 3-78, 4-104, 5-105, 6-170, 7-225, 8-225, 9-230, 10-231
Bowling: L Dudding 18-5-32-5, B Tickner 24.2-8-57-2, A Patel 22-6-70-1, J Clarkson 8-2-26-1, W Clark 7-2-21-1, B Schmulian 8-4-11-0
Result: Central Stags won by an innings and 40 runs
