***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2018/19

[nzfan]

Hope I'm not calling it too early but certainly we can't lose from here. Would have loved to see a good game though. The Otago batting hasn't been good today, most balls they got out to could have been handled easily. Probably overwhelmed being in the finals and against two very good quality bowlers. There's a bit of bounce but haven't seen too much lateral movement.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Otago fighting back well, but this pitch looks great now.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

When does Rippon qualify for NZ? Better option for home tests than Santner imo - bats as well and far more of a threat with the ball

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Firebirds as good as done here, their tail has been hopeless all season.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Neesham goooooone. Wellington with a far weaker tail than Otago. Game on

 

[Bahnz]

Duffy is looking pretty sharp this season. Will be interesting to see if he can keep it up once the Plunket Shield resumes.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Johns having a blinder here ... cmon Firebirds!!!

 

[CharlesLara]

Johns playing a little gem here

 

[Athlai]

Yesssss

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Yessss Firebirds!!! Great comeback from Nofal/Younghusband/Johns and even Newton to win that one!

What a crazy game, you'd have had both sides at about a 99% chance of winning at various stages throughout that.

Pretty pumped haha.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Good game that. Games like that have an extra dimension that T20s really lack

 

[nzfan]

Excellent game that befitting a final. I thought it was all goners once we lost Jimmy Neesham but great to see the likes of Nofal, Younghusband and the young Johns take us home in the end. It's been a fantastic ford trophy season for firebirds. Trialed out many youngsters and had good experience players in the mix. For once we also lost out on Tom Blundell, Logan Van Beek and Rachin Ravindra. In the past we have had no players playing for higher honours. Despite that Firebirds gave ample opportunities to the youngsters and pulled off a greatly successful campaign. Would have loved to see more of Ben Sears but that's all right. The lad will play for many years to come and hopefully not just for firebirds. Four newbies we fielded this year, Bhula, Sears, Johns and Fletcher. Fletcher and Johns have been outstanding. Sears and Bhula have been reasonably good as well. Overall all the players picked contributed at some point in time during the campaign. We have few more talented players playing at Provincial A and club cricket that could step up. Hopefully they will get a go. It was good to see the likes of Jeetan Patel, Luke Woodcock to move on which provided consistent places for up and coming players.

Take a bow for Volts as well, again full of younger men and giving them ample opportunities. They did it in great style, played very good cricket yesterday as well despite early set backs. A lot to like in the Volts team and thank god for that. I just wish Josh Finnie batted higher up the order say at no.5 He's too good a player to be batting at no.8 Besides he's not a bad bowler either, he barely bowled.

 

[straw man]

Plunket Shield resumes today. Not sure which less impressive - the rain spoiling 1.5 matches or that three Canterbury batsmen have been dismissed by Solia's part time mediums for eight runs.

Keystone cops catch to remove Case.

 

[Athlai]

About time, the tests and A Series were wrecking me on points. Blundell carrying drinks has been the worst

 

[jcas0167]

Is McClure injured?

 

[nzfan]

School national comp in Christchurch is on. Wellington coll going well with three wins under the belt. Couple of century makers already. Hutt international boys last won couple of years ago riding on Rachin Ravindra's great run as a young lad. Another chance to bring the cup home? Just couple more wins I guess.

 

[nzfan]

Great to see Ben Sears making the debut today, already picked up a wicket
Wellington missing 5 players to As. What's going on with Canterbury, they're the new minnows.

 

[straw man]

Nathan Smith does love nipping the ball back in sharply to hit the stumps

 

[Bahnz]

Greg Hay with more runs today. I know he's 34, but the selectors really should keep him in mind given how important next season is. If Latham and Raval continue to stink up the joint this summer he should get a go.

 

[straw man]

NZ does a good line in recalling openers in their much-later years - could be the next Peter Fulton/ Aaron Redmond/ Matthew Bell.