Otago under GrahamB (story)

[GrahamB]

Not sure how long I can keep this going, but we'll see.

I decided to take on the challenge of what is considered to be the weakest side on the NZ domestic scene (based on star ratings).

The contracts of Shawn Hicks (batsman), Llew Johnson (keeper), Jack Hunter (RFM) and Ben Lockrose (OS) were terminated.

Of those whose contracts had expired, we only re-signed Jacob Duffy (RFM).

We therefore needed to fill quite a few gaps, with another opening batsman, a few other batsmen, two keepers, another pace bowler and a couple of spinners being our targets.

Of the opening batsmen available, the veteran Stephen Murdoch was preferred ahead of Brad Wilson (whom we'd not re-signed).

Keeping our limited budget in mind, we signed a couple of promising youth batsmen (Gary King and Neal Hogan), as well as Josh Clarkson. We also ended up re-signing Mitch Renwick.

Fortunately, a decent keeper/batsman became available (Dane Cleaver), so we grabbed him plus a reasonable youth keeper (Brendan Ashton).

Kyle Jamieson (RFM) was signed up to complete our pace bowling ranks.

Quality spinners can be hard to come by in NZ, so we signed up veteran OS Will Somerville and young Bangladeshi OS Robiul Haque. Our overeseas back-up for Haque is South African OS Zaid Zolojee.

[boonz101]

Great stuff mate, always enjoy your stories! Look forward to reading more

[GrahamB]

OTAGO SQUAD 2018-19

Hamish Rutherford (opener)
Josh Tasman-Jones (opener)
Stephen Murdoch (opener)

Neil Broom (batsman)
Anaru Kitchen (batsman)
Josh Clarkson (batsman)
Mitch Renwick (batsman)
Gary King (batsman)
Neal Hogan (batsman)

Dane Cleaver (keeper)
Brendan Ashton (keeper)

Matt Bacon (RMF) Captain
Kyle Jamieson (RFM)
Jacob Duffy (RFM)
Warren Barnes (RMF)
Michael Rae (RMF)

Will Somerville (OS)
Robiul Haque (OS) Overseas signing
Zaid Solojee (OS) Reserve overseas signing

[GrahamB]

OTAGO v CANTERBURY (FC Match 1)





Our first FC game was at home.

Canterbury won the toss and took use of the perfect batting conditions to amass 479 all out.
Tom Latham led the way with a solid 132, but had good support from Cam Fletcher (66), Todd Astle (52), Michael Pollard (47) and Jeff Case (43).
The best of our bowlers was Jacob Duffy, who toiled hard for his 3/66.

As luck would have it, the clouds rolled in and the pitch began to take sharp turn early into our reply.
Jeff Clarkson held things together for us with a fighting 88, otherwise things could have been embarrassing. New boys Gary King (43) and Neal Hogan (42) got starts, but were ripped out by a fired up Matt Henry who ended with 4/75.
We were all out for 269 and were asked to follow on.

Our top order batsmen showed good grit in our second innings to save the match.
Neil Broom (95), Neal Hogan (92), Gary King (66) and Hamish Rutherford (47) all played their part and we were finally dismissed for 385 late in the final session of the match.
Andy Ellis had the best bowling figures with 4/74.

The Canterbury openers batted out the remaining 10 overs and the game was drawn.

[DaveK93]

How is Rutherford getting on these days? Barely hear much about him

[GrahamB]

How is Rutherford getting on these days? Barely hear much about him

Just a useful cricketer, whose flaws were exposed at test level.

[GrahamB]

CANTERBURY v OTAGO (FC Match 2)



Our next match was the return encounter with Canterbury.

As very cloudy conditions were forecast for Day 1, we were pleased to win the toss and ask the home side to bat.
However, a large chunk of the first day was lost to rain, and Canterbury went into a sunny Day 2 just three wickets down.
Despite that, our bowlers were determined to put up a better show than in the previous march, and led by skipper Matt Bacon (5/67), we dismissed Canterbury for 231.
Jeff Case was the best of the batsman with 51, while tailenders Ed Nuttall (31) and Will Williams (31) held us at bay for longer than we wanted.

Our best chance of gaining a result now would be to establish a reasonable first innings lead and then hope to dismiss our opponents cheaply.
Although both of our openers fell cheaply, the top order came to the fore, with Gary King (72), Neil Broom (46), Neal Hogan (82no) and keeper Brendan Ashton (64) seeing us through to a decent lead before a late collapse saw us dismissed for 328.
Will Williams was the most successful Canterbury bowler, finishing with 4/52.

Canterbury were looking comfortable at 102/2, when a change of ends saw young off-spinner Robiul Haque take three quick wickets.
This put the home side under pressure again, but their middle order rallied, with Ken McClure (63), keeper Cam Fletcher (35) and all-rounder Andrew Ellis (34) using up most of the remaining time in the match before the innings ended at 246 all out.

Stephen Murdoch and Hamish Rutherford saw out the two overs left to bat and just as we had rescued a draw against Canterbury in our opening match of the season, they rescued this one to deny us.

[bobbyggaming]

Nice start mate, Jamieson is a decent signing, could be a tough 1st season but looking forward to the journey

[GrahamB]

Nice start mate, Jamieson is a decent signing, could be a tough 1st season but looking forward to the journey

Thanks. Keeping an eye on your story too.

[TFF]

Nice read mate, keep them coming!

[GrahamB]

Nice read mate, keep them coming!

Cheers.

[GrahamB]

WELLINGTON v OTAGO (FC Match 3)




We won the toss and put Wellington in to bat under very cloudy skies.
Of the top order, only Devon Conway (47) and Fraser Colson (40) got good starts, but neither could go on with it.
It was only because the tail wagged that the home side struggled through to 241 all out, with Kyle Jamieson showing what he is really capable of with the fine figures of 4/59.

In reply, our top four batsmen all went past 50 (Stephen Murdoch - 60, Hamish Rutherford - 60, Gary King - 50 and Mitch Renwick - 63), but it was a record seventh wicket partnership between Neal Hogan (162) and Kyle Jamieson (86) that saw us through to a mammoth 564 all out.
Hamish Bennett stood out amongst the Wellington attack with 5/137.

With a lead of 305 runs, we had again pinned our hopes on bowling out our opponents on the final day.
However, veteran opener Luke Woodcock (55) and keeper Tom Blundell (88no) stonewalled our bowling attack, scoring at barely two runs per over, but ensuring a draw for their side.

[GrahamB]

AUCKLAND v OTAGO (FC Match 4)



Our decision to declare our first innings closed so that we could send Auckland back in under very cloudy conditions almost backfired, as we were caught in a desperate battle for survival.

We made an excellent start to the match, skittling the home side for a meagre 180 all out.
Robbie O'Donnell (70) was the only batsman to handle the conditions, as Matt Bacon (5/26) and Kyle Jamieson (3/61) scythed their way through the batting line-up.

In reply, we didn't find things much easier, but thanks largely to a superb knock from Stephen Murdoch (86), plus contributions from Mitch Renwick (42) and Josh Clarkson (44no), we established a handy first innings lead of 71, before taking the decision to declare.
Young Ben Lister showed why he is considered such a talent with 3/65, while spinner Louis Delport bowled tidily to take 2/43.

Our plans of bowling the Aucklanders out cheaply a second time were waylaid though, as 27 year old Michael Barry (in just his 11th first class match) scored his maiden century in fine style.
Robbie O'Donnell again chipped in with a useful 47, while Glenn Phillips also stymied our bowling attack with 52.
At 253/2, the pressure looked to now be on us. However, a spectacular collapse saw Auckland all out for 294!
Michael Rae inflicted the initial damage and his figures of 4/58 were well deserved. Matt Bacon and Kyle Jamieson cleaned up the rest.

We were left with 224 runs to chase down for victory, and with two and a half sessions left, that certainly looked gettable.
However, Ben Lister had other ideas, and largely due to his efforts, we found ourselves 105/5 and in danger of losing.
When the ninth wicket fell at 205/9, the writing looked on the wall for us, but Robiul Haque and Michael Rae survived their way to victory in the second to last over of the match.

Fortune had finally favoured the brave!