O’Rourke runs riot with ball as Otago thrashed

Yorked by O’Rourke.

Otago’s miserable season took a turn for the worse yesterday.

The Volts were skittled for 135 in a rain-affected one-dayer against Canterbury in Rangiora.

Newly-minted Black Cap Will O’Rourke lashed every mistake the Volts’ batting lineup made to nab his maiden list A five-wicket bag.

The lanky 22-year-old, who played three ODIs for his country late last year, took six for 20 from nine overs.

The home team cruised to an eight-wicket win in under 20 overs.

They chased a revised target of 133 and the batters had little trouble.

But this was O’Rourke’s day.

The right-armer struck second ball. He came around the wicket to the left-hander Luke Georgeson, got some nice bounce, hit the splice and picked up wicket No. 1.

Dean Foxcroft (6) perished next. He was enticed into a drive and got an inside edge on to his leg stump.

Jacob Cumming got through to 12 on his list A debut before edging to the keeper.

Dale Phillips (10) got a light brush on one as well.

Thorn Parkes (13) got a much thicker edge for the same result. But this time Leo Carter took the catch.

And just like that O’Rourke had five and Otago had slumped to 49 for five.

He got a bonus sixth wicket two balls later when Max Chu got a leading edge which ballooned to Angus McKenzie.

Zak Foulkes removed Llew Johnson (11) and Travis Muller (0) in the 18th over to add to the angst in the Volts’ camp.

It was rather reminiscent of the T20 innings against Wellington in Alexandra in late December when the Volts were rolled for 47 — a record low in the men’s Super Smash.

Ben Lockrose whacked 31 and Andrew Hazeldine flayed 41 not out to save Otago the embarrassment of being dismissed for under 100.

But when Chad Bowes pulled the first delivery he faced through midwicket for four it was clear the game was not going to deliver any late drama.

Bowes (39) and Henry Nicholls (49 not out) put on 88 for the first wicket from 10.4 overs.

Jacob Duffy hit the top of Bowe’s middle stump and Lockrose removed Mitch Hay for five in the only moments of joy for the Volts.

The loss has left Otago in last place with four round-robin games remaining.

The match between Wellington and Central Districts at the Basin Reserve was abandoned. The Stags were 90 without loss in pursuit of a revised target of 274 from 47 overs. Wellington had posted 281 for eight. Logan van Beek blasted 136 from 99 balls. It was his maiden list A century.