The nail-biting game, where fans got to see over 400 runs in 40 overs, ended in Wellington favours, as the Younghusband’s Firebirds defeated the Bruce’s Stags by 2 runs at the Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North on Tuesday.
Skipper Bruce and Josh Clarkson fought hard to hand Central a victory, but they missed it by just 2 runs and they both able to score 212 instead of 215 and lost the match by just 2 runs.
Earlier, Nick Kelly and Finn Allen provided Wellington a destructive start, while the following the batters just followed the same route and went on to post 214 on board in 20 overs.
Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags highlights
Central Stags decision to invite Wellington Firebirds backfired on them, as the Wellington team make the most of this opportunity and posted a mammoth total in front of them to chase.
Allen and Kelly both added 80 runs for the first wickets in just 5.5 overs, tells the whole scene of their dominance during Wellington’s batting.
The stylish batter Allen left the crease after hitting 33 off 20 with the help of a four and 4 maximums.
While Kelly scored 58 in just 25. His knock included 8 fours and 3 big hits.
Rachin Ravindra then played a knock of 16 off 12. While Troy Johnson also contributed with the bat with a 35 off 29.
Adam Milne’s (15 off 9) and Logan van Beek’s (21 off 7) final overs surge finally helped the side cross the 200-run mark and post 214 on board in 20 overs.
Tom Bruce, the skipper of Central Stags, bagged 2 wickets for his side while giving just 27 runs in 4 overs.
Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags highlights: Central Stags to chase 215 to win in 20 overs
Central faced a shaky start in reply, as they lost their first wicket early, but a 54-run stand between Ben Smith and Dane Cleaver put something’s on place for their side.
The chase was long though, and both batters failed to grasp the pressure and lost their wickets.
Veteran Ross Taylor also failed to provide some strength and walked back after scoring just 5 runs.
With 120 more to win in 50 balls, Tom Bruce and Josh Clarkson started to drive their side near the target.
They did a good job by adding 51 in the next 26 balls to put the equation to 69 off the final 24.
Then they collected 12 off the 17th, 16 runs off the 18th, lost the wicket of Clarkson on the last ball, though.
Skipper Bruce didn’t stop, as he went on to struck 24 off the 19th, with the help of 2 fours and 2 big hits.
Central still required 17 from the final over, Bracewell took a single on first ball, kept the in-form Bruce on strike, and he smashed a six, double and a four, to put the equation into a manageable 3 off 2.
But, the drama has yet to begin, as Bruce got run on the fifth and then Johnson on the final ball, as Wellington won the game finally by 2 runs.
