ROUND NINE
CANTERBURY v OTAGO VOLTS
Hagley Oval
18 November 2018
Result: Otago Volts won by 4 wickets and qualified for the Finals series
MATCH STATCHAT
Brad Wilson maiden List A 100
Ben Lockrose List A Debut
Chad Bowes 4th List A century (2nd for Canterbury)
Jacob Duffy best bowling 6-35 & 3rd 5-wicket bag or more in List A cricket
Career best 126 for Brad Wilson. MBUTCHER
In the only Round Nine match not to be disrupted by the southerly front, a thrilling last-over finish at Hagley Oval has set up a tantalising Round 10 next weekend, with the impressive Volts now in contention to claim the coveted top qualifiying spot ahead of the Finals.
A home century to opening batsman Chad Bowes was the highlight of Canterbury’s 270 all out in exactly 50 overs, batting first.
Only Firebird Andrew Fletcher has more List A runs than Chad Bowes this season. PHOTOSPORT
Bowes batted into the 44th over for his first white-ball century of the season, Cam Fletcher then picking up the task at the death with a quick unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.
But that tally would not prove quite enough to stop the strong Southerners — whose young captain Jacob Duffy had led the attack from the front with a stunning career best haul of six for 35.
Volts co-captain Jacob Duffy is leading from the front. MBUTCHER
In their chase, Volts veteran opening batsman Brad Wilson crucially replied in kind with a solid 126 off 132 balls at the top of the order — remarkably the solid war horse’s maiden three-figure effort, in his 47th List A appearance.
Batting into the 47th over and with ample support from his teammates, it put the Volts in just enough control as they ticked off an exciting and important win, staying cool at the death with just two balls to spare.
Michael Rippon's quick 37 helped the Volts get home. MBUTCHER
The Volts now head to their Southland home ground, Invercargill's Queen's Park, for a massive match against the Auckland Aces this Saturday.
The Aces, strengthened by the arrival of Colin Munro and Lockie Ferguson, will be fighting for a spot in the top three while the Volts have a shot at qualifying top and securing direct entry to a home Grand Final.
The second and third qualifiers will instead face off in a sudden death Elimination Final.
