Canterbury lost to Otago Volts by 53 runs
Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
3 January 2022
As exciting prospect Will O'Rourke debuted for Canterbury, could the Otago Volts make it two out of two against the defending Ford Trophy champions?
Debutant Will O'Rourke - the big, tall young paceman getting his first start in any format in his rookie year - came in at fourth change after his skipper elected to bowl first, and had his maiden wicket in his second spell.
It was a double wicket maiden, O'Rourke striking with the first and fourth deliveries of the 39th to have the big wicket of Neil Broom as his maiden victim on 41, followed by the other set batsman in Llew Johnson (26) to have the Volts 186/5.
Until then, things had been tracking well for the visitors who then lost Anaru Kitchen cheaply to Henry Shipley as well.
No wickets had fallen until the 23 over when Cole McConchie had Hamish Rutherford stumped on 45, the breakthrough at 105/1.
Fellow opener Mitch Renwick was then caught behind for 55 a few overs later, but Broom was an obvious clear and present danger until O'Rourke's double strike - just after the veteran had chalked up his 6000th one-day List A run.
Max Chu continued stepping up this season with a career best unbeaten 44* off 41 balls through the back end of the innings to see the Volts to a tally of 258/7 after the team had built a number of steady partnerships.
That shouldn't have daunted Canterbury at home in Rangiora country, but early wickets made their chase more challenging.
Chad Bowes, Ken McClure and Jack Boyle were all back in the hutch inside the first five overs after a double strike by Matt Bacon in his first over, Jacob Duffy following suit.
Then Kitchen had two big wickets in McConchie and Cam Fletcher in quick succession, and Canterbury were in trouble at 77/5 in just the 18th.
It was left to Leo Carter and then Henry Shipley to get some runs on the tins, which they did with a 64-stand.
Carter went past 50 and was on 63 when he was stumped off Ben Lockrose - the young spinner playing his first Ford Trophy match in several years, having taken one wicket previously on debut in his only other appearance.
Canterbury needed to find their last 100 runs at almost run-a-ball pace, with Shipley approaching his half century but just the four in hand.
Wickets led to yet more pressure on the hosts, Lockrose netting a career best 3-36 in the process while Bacon finished it off in the 44th over with 4-51, after a gallant career best 78 off 64 from Shipley that including eight boundaries and three sixes.
Catching aside, a very, very good performance that from the @OtagoVolts boys. Wickets throughout and a bonus point secured with one run to spare. Great day out! #FordTrophy pic.twitter.com/YJxglFnkSd
— Mark Currie (@MarkCurrieNZ) January 3, 2022
