Now they just need to fire with the ball this morning.
The Volts posted 210 on day two of their Plunket Shield game at University Oval yesterday, chasing down the subpar Central Stags total of 182.
After losing three early wickets on Monday, Thorn Parkes stood up for the Volts in the middle order to keep their first innings alive, with his knock of 70.
Jamal Todd (48) supported Parkes and Jake Gibson’s contribution 24 near the end also helped.
Sent back in to bat, the Stags bounced back from their first innings slump, finishing 61 for none at stumps yesterday evening.
The Volts now trail by 33 runs.
Luke Georgeson and Parkes started the Volts off nicely, with a 44-run partnership to settle into their day.
But Georgeson was bowled by Doug Bracewell for 22 runs.
Parkes was strong for Otago and took charge of their innings through the middle with Todd.
They combined to put on 98 for the fifth wicket — proving Otago’s middle order could be key this season — and helped resurrect the innings.
Parkes was impressive as he made his way to his sixth first class half century and played some lovely shots.
He was eventually nicked out for 70 by Bracewell — who finished with figures of four for 39 — the catch taken by wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver.
Todd (48) was also solid, smacking six fours and one six, but he too went in similar fashion three overs later when Black Cap Blair Tickner’s delivery again fell into Cleaver’s hands.
Max Chu (16) met a similar fate, when Cleaver snaffled him off Josh Clarkson’s bowling. Raymond Toole bowled both Jacob Duffy (7) and Bacon (0) before Gibson went.
Jarrod McKay finished not out on 11.
In the other games, Canterbury lead Auckland by 104 runs with five wickets in hand. Black Cap Henry Nicholls glided to 120 runs to put Canterbury in good stead.
Northern Districts trail Wellington by 214 runs with six wickets remaining. They were 56 for four at stumps yesterday. Earlier, Northern bowler Katene Clarke took six for 77.
CENTRAL STAGS
First innings 182
OTAGO VOLTS
First innings 210
L Georgeson b Bracewell 22
J Cumming lbw Randell 3
D Phillips lbw Randell 0
D Foxcroft lbw Bracewell 1
T Parkes c Cleaver b Bracewell 70
J Todd c Cleaver b Tickner 48
M Chu c Cleaver b Clarkson 16
J Gibson c Randell b Bracewell 24
J Duffy b Toole 7
M Bacon b Toole 0
J McKay not out 11
Extras (lb 3, w2, nb3): 8
Total (85.1 overs): 210
Fall: 1-4, 2-4, 3-9, 4-53, 5-151, 6-153, 7-177, 8-190, 9-192, 10-210
Bowling: D Bracewell 18.1-3-39-4, B Randell 14-2-27-2, B Tickner 18-3-40-1, R Toole 19-3-53-2, A Patel 10-2-27-0, J Clarkson 6-0-21-1
CENTRAL STAGS
Second innings
G Hay not out 16
J Boyle not out 43
Extras (lb2): 2
Total (0 wkts in 27 overs): 61
Fall: 0
Bowling: J Duffy 9-3-8-0, M Bacon 3-0-16-0, J Gibson 4-1-21-0, L Georgeson 5-2-6-0, J McKay 4-0-8-0, D Foxcroft 2-2-0-0
