Centuries from Andrew Fletcher and Gareth Severin, and a second innings five-wicket bag from Jesse Tashkoff have led the Whiting Financial Services Wellington A side to a thrilling nine-run win over Northern Districts A at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.
Fresh off the back of a draw against Central Districts A in Wellington last week the Wellington A side got off to a wobbly start after Northern Districts won the toss and elected to bowl.
Skipper Fraser Colson and young batsman Nick Greenwood were both removed early as the visitors found themselves in all sorts at 30/2 after seven overs.
That brought Johnsonville’s Gareth Severin to the crease who, alongside Firebirds batsman Andrew Fletcher, built a partnership that would eventually be worth 186 runs.
Severin was the first to bring up his century off 177 balls, before Fletcher joined him, raising the bat off 200 balls with ten fours and a solitary six.
Their partnership was eventually broken by Tim Pringle who got Severin caught behind just one ball after the 21-year-old raised the bat. Fletcher fell seven overs later for 108, but handy contributions from Callum McLachlan (44*) and Liam Roche (32) helped Wellington tick over the 300 mark before declaring at 329/6.
In response, Northern Districts lost Pringle and Katene Clarke early on, but Sam Varcoe (74) and Taylor Bettelheim (110*) helped their side reach 252 before captain Clarke declared with a deficit of 77 at tea on day two.
Behind in the game and in need of early wickets, the Northern Districts bowlers were again thwarted by an in-form Fletcher and opening partner Colson who put on 93 for the opening wicket.
Colson fell for 41 in the twelfth over, but Fletcher batted through and was helped with contributions through the middle order from Greenwood (21) and Severin (31).
Fletcher would have had his eyes on back-to-back centuries, but he was removed 12 runs shy of the milestone by Freddy Walker and Wellington declared with a lead of 323 early on day three.
With wins possible for both sides on the final day, Northern Districts started well and reached 93 before Bettleheim was bowled by Thijs Turner for 40.
His fellow opener Sam Varcoe would bat on though and he eventually found a partner in Fergus Lellman – the pair putting on 88 for the fourth wicket.
Varcoe finally fell to Matt Scoble but not before he brought up his century, his 114 from 190 balls putting the hosts in the driver’s seat.
At 263/5, with overs left in the day and Lellman well set at the crease, Northern Districts looked on track for a memorable chase, but there would be a late twist in the tale.
Enter Jesse Tashkoff.
The young allrounder had had Chris Swanson out stumped earlier in the innings and his spell late in the day would once again turn the match in Wellington’s favour.
Jake Gibson was the next to go, trapped LBW for two, before Liam Roche got Walker caught for 11.
Seven down and needing just 20 runs to win the odds were still in Northern Districts favour but then Tashkoff did the damage getting Josh Brown at the start of the 79th over.
Lellman was still there though, and he kept the Northern Districts chase on track as he maintained the strike alongside his partner Pringle.
But with just nine runs required to win and Lellman looking strong on 89, Tashkoff struck again, trapping Pringle LBW for three and then the captain Clarke, who had picked up a knee injury earlier in the match, four balls later to complete a five-wicket haul and give Wellington a thrilling nine-run win.
Wellington A 329/6dec (Fletcher 108, Severin 100, Gibson 3-66) & 246/7dec (Fletcher 88, Colson 41, Walker 5-59) beat Northern Districts 252/3dec (Bettleheim 110*, Varcoe 74, Leonard 1-38) & 314 (Varcoe 114, Lellman 89*, Tashkoff 5-56) by nine runs
Article added: Friday 26 March 2021
