Match Details
It's the Auckland Aces that have registered a win by 13 runs against the Wellington Firebirds.
Opting to bat first, the Auckland Aces posted a total of 134/9 from
20 overs.
Specialist opener Martin Guptill was dismissed early for 4
(3) by Bennett. George Worker and Mark Chapman then came together to accumulate
52 run stand from seven overs.
Considering the nature of the wicket, the duo’s contribution
out there in the middle was of utmost significance. Worker had to walk
back for 23 (25), as Ben Sears got his wicket. Cole Briggs and the skipper
Robert ODonnell were both dismissed for not which added the pressure back on the Aces.
However, Mark Chapman continued to anchor the innings, and his valuable knock of 55 (48) got his side to a target worth fighting for. For the Wellington Firebirds, Ben Sears stood out with his spell of 3/22 in 4 overs. Ollie Newton, Bennett, van Beek and Younghusband also chipped in with a wicket apiece.
The run chase was off to a disastrous start as the Firebirds lost three wickets for just 10 runs in two overs. Ben Lister Lister was the wrecker in chief as he dismissed Finn Allen 0 (2), Tim Robinson 9 (7) as well as Logan van Beek 0 (4) in quick succession.
Troy Johnson and Michael Bracewell did try to consolidate things with a 43 run partnership but failed to advance further forward with Adithya Ashok getting into the thick of things. The young wrist-spinner bowled a terrific spell of 3/8 in four overs and diminished Wellington’s chances of getting over the line.
Michael Bracewell’s late hurrah of an unbeaten 58* (46) was
exciting to watch, but the Firebirds could only add a total of 121-8 in 20
overs, while falling short of 13 runs.