Rutherford clocking first-class 100th for Volts

Hamish Rutherford. Photo: Hamish MacLean
Hamish Rutherford. Photo: Hamish MacLean
Hamish Rutherford has posted some impressive hundreds but his next will arguably be his greatest contribution.

The Otago left-hander will bring up his 100th first-class game when the Volts play Northern Districts at the University of Otago Oval today.

The 30-year-old left-hander would have reached the milestone by now had it not been for a damp outfield and some poor weather in Dunedin last week.

It will be a grand occasion.

"After my first game and my first couple of seasons I wouldn't have thought I would have reached 100 games," Rutherford said.

"I guess to me it means a lot of sacrifice, not only by me but my family as well.

"I guess it shows longevity as well."

Rutherford was bowled by Trent Boult for a golden duck in his first innings of first-class cricket. It was an inauspicious start but he has enjoyed some terrific days since his debut in March 2008.

At the very top of the list is the 171 he made on test debut in 2013. His double hundred for Otago a year earlier was pretty special as well.

Last season he scored a classy 115 against a Northern Districts attack which featured the likes of Boult, Neil Wagner and Ish Sodhi.

"One day when I'm an old fossil talking about it with the grandkids on the couch I suppose I'll remember those moments," Rutherford said.

"The games I remember the most are the ones we win. The most memorable would be the season we came second and almost won the Plunket Shield.

"That is certainly the closest I've come to helping lift it.

"Obviously, that's the main goal. Hopefully, we can lift it one day."

The Volts have not won the first-class competition since 1987-88 and have not had the best start this season.

The team was well-beaten by Wellington in the opener and last week's match against Auckland was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Rutherford played for Worcestershire during the New Zealand winter and re-signed for the 2020 county season. He was invited back after a couple of centuries in the one-day tournament and 123 in the County Championship against Leicestershire.

"I've been hitting it as well as I have ever done, really. It was a shame to get sawn off in both innings in Wellington."

He got run out and given out caught behind - off the elbow, apparently.

Otago has two forced changes. Neil Broom has a forearm injury and has been replaced by Anaru Kitchen. Mark Craig has a knee injury and all-rounder Josh Finnie will take his place.

Northern Districts captain Daniel Flynn will bring up 100 first-class for his province in the match.

He has been a constant presence in the side since making his debut in 2004-05.

He leads a classy side featuring test players Neil Wagner and BJ Watling.

There is some rain expected each day, however the venue's surface was dry yesterday afternoon and play should get under way on time weather pending.

Otago v Northern Districts

Dunedin, today, 10.30am

Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Dale Phillips, Nick Kelly, Anaru Kitchen, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Renwick, Nathan Smith, Michael Rippon, Jacob Duffy (captain), Michael Rae, Matt Bacon, Josh Finnie.
Northern Districts: Daniel Flynn (captain), Henry Cooper, Bharat Popli, Joe Carter, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Joe Walker, Brett Randell, Neil Wagner, James Baker, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton.

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