2022/23
ROUND SIX
AUCKLAND ACES drew with WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Colin Maiden Park, Auckland
5-8 March, 2023
Total points this round: Auckland Aces 8, Wellington Firebirds 2
Milestones
Auckland Aces: 600th Domestic first-class match
Quinn Sunde: First-class debut, maiden half century
Garth Severin: First-class debut
Sean Solia: Second first-class century, career best score, 2000 first-class runs
Mark Chapman: fifth first-class century
Sean Solia and Mark Chapman: Auckland record 2nd wicket partnership (249) against all teams
Muhammad Abbas: Maiden first-class century
All images: Photosport
DAY ONE
The match began with home skipper Robbie O'Donnell winning the toss and electing to bat as first-class cricket returned to Colin Maiden Park, Auckland having been drenched by waves of cyclone-related wet weather in the lead-up.
Both teams had a player on debut, and it was new Firebird Garth Severin who was in the action first, taking the slip catch straight after lunch that saw the first Aces wicket fall at the inauspicious score of 111/1.
That was Will O'Donnell on his way for 42.
However, it would be a long time before the Firebirds took another wicket.
Mark Chapman joined opener Sean Solia and the pair set about scoring runs for the rest of the day (and then some, as it turned out).
By tea, Solia had reached his century, and later headed in at stumps still unbeaten on 137*.
Chapman meanwhile raised his bat for his ton late in the last session, and walked in with 104 not out alongside Solia on the scoreboard with the Aces sitting pretty at 302/1.
A long day in the dirt, it had turned out to be, for the visiting team.
DAY TWO
A special innings for the Auckland Aces continued as overnight batsmen Chapman (145) and Solia (151) went on to break the Auckland first-class second-wicket partnership record against all teams.
That mark had been held by Trevor Frankin and Jeff Crowe since 1989, the Aces' pair setting the new mark at 249 before Chapman was finally caught off Michael Snedden at 360/2.
They had ensured the Aces netted the full four batting bonuses while denying the Firebirds any points for bowling, a fairly uncommon occurrence.
Rain interrupted the morning, after both had fallen to a deeply relieved Michael Snedden, with Severin picking up his second catch.
After a run-a-ball maiden half century on debut from young Quinn Sunde, the Aces ultimately went on to declare their mammoth first innings at 508/6.
The Wellington Firebirds did not enjoy the same fortune at the start of their first innings.
The visitors were 78/4 in reply by stumps, and still trailing by 430 in the first innings.
Wellington debutant Garth Severin would head into day three in Auckland unbeaten on 33* at first drop.
DAY THREE
Having declared at 508/6 in the first innings, Aces skipper Robbie O'Donnell declared again at 143/1, to set the Firebirds a chase of 385 to win.
His quick Lockie Ferguson then proceeded to knock off a couple of quick wickets, removing Luke Georgeson at the end of the very first over for a wicket maiden, and adding Rachin Ravindra caught behind a handful of overs into his fiery spell at 23/2.
So far, so good for the hosts.
Debutant Garth Severin then fell victim to leggie Adi Ashok late in the day, ushering in a nightwatchman in Michael Snedden who joined captain Nick Kelly at 31/3 and helped Kelly get his side to stumps at 40/3.
DAY FOUR
The fighting Firebirds hung on for a draw at Colin Maiden, denying the defending Plunket Shield champions the opportunity to get lift-off from the bottom of the table.
Having resumed the last morning at 40/3 with nightwatchman Michael Snedden at the crease, the Aces were delighted to snaffle that wicket (above) - a second scalp for Adi Ashok.
But a maiden century to teenage talent Muhammad Abbas (130, in just his second match) in a 221-run fifth-wicket partnership with captain Nick Kelly (110, below) spared the Firebirds' blushes.
Even with another fine five-wicket bag from another young gun, Ashok (5/94), the Aces just couldn't get the wickets when it counted.
Kelly and Abbas dominated the Firebirds innings, batting on past lunch and past tea, by which time Abbas had raised the bat for his maiden 161-ball century, including 10 boundaries.
Despite eventually removing both centurions - among four wickets tumbling in the tense final session, the Aces couldn't capture the last two remaining wickets they needed for victory.
Logan van Beek and Iain McPeake held out for the draw at 299/8, in a game that had seemed for so long to have been the Aces for the taking.
