Auckland Aces Managers Blog

Plunket Shield v Northern Districts

The Aces arrived in Hamilton after a tough couple of weeks. Outright losses to the Knights at home and Otago away were games where we did not perform to the standards expected of an Auckland cricket team. And the boys are very much aware of the legacy that they represent so it hit us hard.

There were some tough messages delivered and a lot of hard work put in. There was a strong determination to turn things around and we knew that they only way we could do it was through performances on the park. With our backs to the wall that performance had to be this game. This was the mindset inside the camp as we walked through the gates at Seddon Park.

What unfolded in Hamilton over the four days was a classic first class match as both teams worked incredibly hard to gain the ascendency. Ultimately the winner was only decided in the last session of the game.

Monday March 14th

Day one dawned hot and sunny. Seddon Park is a regular test venue and a really nice place to play. There was a buzz around the team as we went about the warm ups.

The pitch was quite fresh and when ND won the toss they asked the Aces to bat. We felt that if we could get through the first session it would be a good pitch to bat on so we weren't too disappointed to have first use.

However a familiar story played out as we were reduced to 65-5 in the first session. Northern Districts feature some fine pace bowlers and they used the conditions well. For our part we were again in trouble with the bat and it wasn't a nice feeling.

In any walk of life when things aren't going your way it's really hard to get positive momentum. Skipper Gareth Hopkins had talked before the game of needing one of the boys to step up and deliver the performance that turned things around. At 68-5 we needed a hero to come out of the shed after lunch.

Fortunately we have a few in this team. Hoppy toughed it out for two hours, Jimmy Neesham played well for 22 until he got a very good ball and Daryl Tuffey grafted hard for over an hour for 12. Despite that hard work we were still reduced to 125-8 after 60 overs.

Michael Bates has consistently stood up for the Aces all season. And now he formed a partnership with spinner Bruce Martin that lasted for a session and a half. These two guys did exactly what the team have been talking about to turn our situation around. They kept it simple, played each ball on its merits and worked hard together to build a partnership.

The post tea session was some of the most absorbing cricket I have seen in my time with the Aces. All of the players were sitting still, watching the game, and encouraging the boys to carry on. When he got to 58, Batesy brought up his highest first class score.

The boys got us through to stumps at 227-8 having battled 17 overs against the second new ball.
We'd grafted hard all day and a couple of the boys showed that they had the desire to do the job for their mates. We knew we needed a hero, and while we didn't expect it to come from numbers 9 and 10, we were not complaining.

Tuesday March 15th

The heroic partnership of the day before did not carry on as the impressive Trent Boult clean bowled Bruce and Chris Martin in his first over of the day. 228 was a score we could bowl at. The Knights had an inexperienced batting line up and if we could chip out a few key wickets we knew we could pressure them.

That proved to be the case as the Aces reduced ND to 186-6 with some disciplined bowling. Daryl Tuffey was particularly accurate and Chris Martin bowled with some pace. The Northern openers did a good job seeing off the new ball but spinner Bruce Martin struck early in his spell to bowl Watling. Another partnership of 70 was raised for the second wicket before a great piece of fielding turned things around for the Aces. Daniel Flynn got a top edge cutting at Michael Bates and the ball flew high and wide of the 3rd slip area where Tim McIntosh took a very sharp catch. It was made all that more remarkable in that Tim had travelled from second slip to get there. Batesy used that piece of inspiration well as he knocked over Northern's two key batters, Hamish Marshall for a duck and Brad Willson for a well compiled 71. At 145-4 it was game on for the two points.

The boys worked very hard and got a lot closer than the scorecard suggests. A dropped slip chance off McGlashan early probably cost us. In the end Northern passed our 229 with seven wickets down and then had a bit of a slog to get to 291.

The now blossoming All rounder Michael Bates wrapped up the innings by bowling Brent Arnel and earned the excellent figures of 5-38. To bowl Northern out in a day was a good performance by the Aces on what was now a good track. We left that evening still very much in the game and thinking of putting on a total on day three for a fourth innings run chase.

Wednesday March 16th

Day three and another day of wall to wall sunshine. The mood was very good in the camp and the boys were really enjoying the game.

The Aces were up for the fight which was lucky as we got off to a poor start. Test opener Tim McIntosh was bowled second ball and we were one down without a run on the board. The top order fought hard against the very good Northern seam attack and while they didn't score very quickly we knew we could catch up later in the day.

Skipper Gareth Hopkins was in a very determined mood. He wanted to be the guy that put in the performance to win the game for the team. In this kind of mindset Hoppy is a great batsman; he takes the bowlers on in a battle of mental toughness and makes sure that he lasts longer than them. He batted 60 overs for 85 runs with support from Anaru Kichen (46) and Brad Cachopa (41).

The critical moment of the match came with the second new ball. At 198-5, if we could get through the first spells of the seamers we could have prospered in the last hour.

It didn't go our way as Hoppy was given out to the first delivery of the second new ball. It was a decision that we felt might have got the benefit of some doubt. That however is cricket and you have to accept these things.

This key wicket put ND back on top and they took full advantage. Daryl Tuffey with a courageous 41 not out provided the only resistance as we ended the day 259-9, a lead of 195.

The changing room was a little quiet after play as the boys realized they had lost a key session with the second new ball. Our skipper delivered a great message to the boys "guys, I just want you to think tonight about winning this game". He was right we had a total to defend and we had to do it.

Thursday March 17th

It was a very simple equation that faced both teams on the last day. Either they got 197 of we bowled them out. This game was not going to end on a draw.

The skipper repeated his message from the previous night, we were to only think about one thing and that was winning. What unfolded on the day was a great game of cricket. The Aces showed a lot of commitment and pride in Auckland Cricket and really stuck to the task of defending the total.

It was important that we did not make any mistakes so when BJ Watling edged a Chris Martin rocket into the slips area it was a big lift to see Andrew de Boorder pouch it so comfortably. Chris struck again in his first spell to get the start that we needed.

The Aces kept chipping away all of the last day and took wickets at regular intervals. Everyone contributed in the bowling. Michael Bates was very economical, Daryl Tuffy always threatening and Bruce Martin is a quality spinner.

The real hero was Chris Martin. His opening spell was very good but his spell after lunch was a perfect example of international quality bowling. It's the intensity these guys bring to the crease that stands out, Chris gave the batters nothing, he was quick, accurate and got whatever was left in the pitch out of it. And he kept it going from first ball to last. It is spells like these that are the great learning experiences for the Aces and all the boys appreciate having Chris in the team.

That spell brought a wicket and Bruce Martin bagged one at the other end. At 105-6 the Aces finally had their noses in front in this match and had to close it out.

Bradley Scott is well respected on the first class circuit as a batter and he looked like he may rescue it for Northern. He scored 34 out of a partnership of 46 with the resilient Brook Hatwell. A stroke of genius turned the match back in the Aces favour. Skipper Gareth Hopkins threw the ball to Andrew de Boorder to bowl the last over before tea and with his last ball he trapped Bradley Scott lbw.

The equation at tea was that ND had 45 runs to get and we had three wickets left to take. We've been in these tight situations a lot in white ball cricket this year and I sensed that the boys had the belief and confidence back to nail this one.

Chris Martin started up again after tea and even in the last session of this four day game he was all quality and very menacing. Trent Boult played some attacking shots from square leg and looked to be taking the game ND's way before he was well caught in the gully. 20 runs and two wickets. In his next over Chris knocked over James Baker for a duck and the last pair now had to get all 20 themselves.
Brooke Hatwell who had defended resolutely for 200 minutes now had to win the game for ND by playing a few shots. Bruce Martin wasn't going to let that happen and sneaked one through the gate to bowl him and give the Aces an 18 run win.

Pandemonium followed. I can only describe it as being the same as when we won the T20 match in the dark at the Basin Reserve. The Aces were absolutely stoked and the dressing room was a great place to be. The sense of relief at having "got the monkey off the back" for a week was obvious as was the sheer enjoyment of winning a game for Auckland. CEO Andrew Eade told me by phone that the vibe in the ACA offices were no different and that meant a lot to the boys.

Winning for our mates, our work colleagues and our supporters is what it is all about for Aces. And this was a great turn around and a great game of cricket.

There was a chance to farewell Daryl Tuffey who has been called into the Black Caps squad for the World Cup. He joins Kyle Mills and Martin Guptill up there, two guys that have kept in touch with the team via text the whole time they have been away.

See you at Colin Maiden over the next two weeks as we take on Wellington and Canterbury.

Click on the relevant line below for previous blogs.

One day competition v Otago (semifinal) Feb 9

One day competition v Canterbury (semifinal) Feb 6

One day competition v Wellington Feb 2

One day competition v Otago Jan 23

One day competition v Central Districts Jan 19

One day competition v Canterbury Jan 16

One day competition v Wellington Jan 12

One day competition v Northern Districts Jan 9

HRV Cup Final v Central Districts Jan 2

HRV Cup v Canterbury December 21