The Canterbury Wizards, with the help of a teenaged replacement, conjured an unlikely win on the final day of seventh round Plunket Shield match.
The Wellington Firebirds looked to be well on their way to notching just their second Shield victory of the season after resuming on their overnight score of 105 with all 10 wickets in hand at Rangiora.
Needing just another 150 runs for victory, Wellington were all out for the addition of just 73 runs to their score to hand Canterbury a 76-run victory.
With Todd Astle and Andy Eliis attending a funeral in Christchurch today, Canterbury were granted leave to field replacements Matt Henry and Tom Latham, both of whom made weighty contributions.
Henry, making his first class debut at age 19, delighted Canterbury coach Bob Carter by taking a five-wicket bag and Latham claimed two catches to dismiss key Wellington batsmen Cameron Merchant and Grant Elliottt.
Wellington lost Cameron Merchant without adding to his overnight score of 58 and the rot set in quickly.
Fellow opener Stephen Murdoch added another four runs to reach 50 before becoming Henry's first scalp in first class wicket with his departure sparking a steady procession of Wellington batsmen back to the pavilion.
Henry eventually claimed five for 23 off just nine overs and Willie Lonsdale got a brace of three for 16 with Struan George, another making his first class debut, taking two for 51 to return match figures of three for 102.
