DAY TWO
The Otago Volts finally dismissed Wellington shortly before lunch on the second day, then negotiated a niggly single over before the meal break with openers Mitch Renwick and Hamish Rutherford heading back in at 2/0.
The Firebirds' batsmen had enjoyed their morning's work, pushing on to 469 in their innings, top scorer Troy Johnson stranded just short of what would have been a maiden double century.
He would have to settle for an outstanding career best knock of 194 not out, after almost seven focused hours at the crease.
Standing in the way of the Volts wrapping things up quickly had been not only Johnson, but Ollie Newton who contributed a first-class career-best 70 off just 87 balls (11 boundaries and two sixes) - a tremendous knock at nine.
The pair fashioned a century stand that frustrated the hosts until Jarrod Mckay finally picked up his second of three wickets in the innings.
The end was nigh after that. Michael Rae was also left with a three-for before Michael Rippon wrapped things up with his second.
By stumps, the Volts had a lot of work to do to get back into the game: five down and still trailing by 305 runs.
The youthful pair of Jacob Cumming (22*) and Max Chu (2*) were in the middle at 164/5, Nathan Smith having stopped both Rutherford (44) and Nick Kelly (48) from reaching half centuries.
Rachin Ravindra has removed his fellow spinner Michael Rippon for a three-ball duck shortly before stumps, while Dale Phillips had had the misfortune to have been run out at 104/3 by an outstandingly quick shy from Michael Snedden.
The tall man Snedden showed great awareness and dexterity as he chased a ball off his own bowling. Nick Kelly had turned the delivery for a quick single, the batsmen scrambling as Snedden sped to collect it, turned and, off balance, knocked out a stump almost from square on: an outstanding piece of fielding.
Article added: Tuesday 22 March 2022
