Rutherford guides Otago home

Will Johnston

Former Blackcap Hamish Rutherford’s commanding innings put the Otago Volts in the box seat against the Central Stags in the opening round of the Ford Trophy.

His knock of 97 set up Otago for a six-wicket win in a rain affected match at Pukekura Park on Sunday.

Early morning rain delayed the start of the match from 11am to 4:30pm with overs reduced to 20 each.

Rutherford and fellow opener Neil Broom’s 68-run partnership at the start of the second innings made it possible to chase down the Stags’ 187/6 total and achieved that with two overs remaining.

Rutherford and Broom seemed to be in a hurry to finish the match, scoring their 68 runs on just six overs – a taste of what’s to come in the Twenty20 format.

Rutherford was bowled by veteran bowler Seth Rance, three runs shy of his 12th Ford Trophy 100.

Anaru Kitchen finished the innings with two boundaries and scored a fast 30 off 13 balls.

All of the Stags bowlers were expensive in the shortened match, but Josh Clarkson picked up the wickets of Broom and Josh Finnie.

Earlier in the match, Rutherford probably regretted winning the toss as the Stags rocketed to 58/0 after six overs.

Opening pair of George Worker and wicketkeeper Bailey Wiggins put on a solid 73-run partnership before Worker was dismissed for 33.

Taranaki local Tom Bruce scored a quickfire 39 off 19 deliveries, including three sixes and two fours.

Not only did Worker and Bruce earn starts off the bat, so did Wiggins, who top scored with 44, and Ben Smith 24. Smith was run out on the last ball of the innings trying to sneak an extra run.

Otago used six bowlers with Michael Rippon the only one not to pick up a wicket.

In what was an easily defendable total, Otago kept the run-rate high and achieved the result in the 18th over.

The two teams play each other again on Tuesday.

Central Stags 183/6, 20overs (B. Wiggins 44, T. Bruce 39. A. Kitchen 1/35) lost to Otago Volts 187/4, 18.2 overs (H. Rutherford 97, A. Kitchen. J. Clarkson 2/31) by six wickets