Volts leave it late to seal victory over Firebirds

Otago quick bowler, Michael Rae, celebrates taking a wicket against Wellington in their Super Smash clash at the University Oval yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

Otago has snuffed out Wellington’s chance to fire.

The Otago Volts secured a five-wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds at the University Oval yesterday.

It was in the field where the home side did the damage in the Super Smash game, taking five wickets early and leaving the Firebirds scrambling to a finish of 120 runs.

But the Volts did not make it easy, leaving it until the final over to seal 123 runs and victory.

Michael Rae was the star, taking three for 18 in his first game back since being stuck in a hotel room with Covid, and brought his dance moves with him.

"It got to the point when I was analysing the tiling in the bathroom," Rae said.

"There was four different tiles in the shower — that was about the highlight of our week. Little bit too much time by myself ... and you start seeing some ropey celebrations today."

Matt Bacon started the onslaught in the second over when Firebirds opener Nick Kelly (0) flew his first shot into the hands of Ben Lockrose.

Lockrose followed up with his own wicket in the next over.

Rae took the wickets of Sachin Ravindra (10), Nathan Smith (4) and Tim Robinson (2), all caught by Dean Foxcroft.

Suddenly the visiting side was down 23 for five.

Talk about a dream start from the home side.

"It was nice that I was able to bowl behind [Bacon] because he got Nick Kelly out really early on and he’s just been a guy who’s been taking to bowlers.

"I was probably given quite an easy time to bowl with two guys who were fresh at the wicket and then obviously Dean did the rest of it hanging on to it at first slip."

Rae didn’t have to wait long until he was back in the action, taking a catch from a high shot.

It sent Callum McLachlan packing and the Firebirds’ troubles continued at 38 for six.

Troy Johnson (57) was the only one to really get going for the Firebirds, smacking one six and four boundaries in his knock.

He was run out in the final ball of the innings with his side finishing with 120 for eight.

The Firebirds appeared to be having a rough start with the ball as well, when Ollie Newton had three wides to produce a nine-ball opening over.

But that ninth ball turned out to be a saviour, when Dale Phillips nicked the smallest of edges on it and was caught behind by McLachlan.

Captain Hamish Rutherford then went for 15 and the Volts were 32 for two.

Foxcroft (26) played some nice shots and took charge to find the boundaries.

He was nearly run out by Devan Vishvaka in the sixth over but narrowly snuck through, only to be bowled out by Ravindra in the eighth.

Milne sent the stumps flying when he bowled Josh Finnie (15) and Smith took the wicket of Rippon (24).

New cap Nick Kwant (11) was almost out when he hit the ball into his own stumps but got a reprieve when it was no-ball from Adam Milne. It was a tight finish but a huge Llew Johnson (22) four finished the game.

"The most important thing is to get that win. We slide up the table there quite nicely now," Rae said.

— Central Stags batter Will Young smacked five consecutive sixes before his dismissal aiming for his sixth boundary on Saturday.

His dismissal against Auckland spinner Louis Delport rmeant he fell short of Canterbury player Leo Carter’s six sixes in an over in 2020. The Stags won by 29 runs by DLS.