ANDREW CORNAGA/Photosport
Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Logan van Beek took 11 wickets from 44.1 overs against the Central Districts Stags.
Netherlands international Logan van Beek made a welcome return from the T20 World Cup as the Wellington Firebirds secured a 68-run victory over the Central Districts Stags in their Plunket Shield match on Thursday.
Van Beek finished the four-day match at Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North with a best figure of 11 wickets from 44.1 overs, with 153 runs.
After helping the Firebirds become the first team to beat the Stags this season, the right-arm medium-fast bowler reflected on a productive outing.
“Some days it just kind of clicks for you,” Van Beek said. “I think the wicket suited me … you had to throw a lot into the wicket.
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“I talked to the guys and said, ‘Look, if you keep showing up every day and do your best, at some point you’ll get a reward. Trust me.'”
Van Beek took 5-73 and 6-80, the second time in the all-rounder’s career that he took 10 or more wickets in a match. It was his first game for the Firebirds this season, after representing the Netherlands at the recent global tournament in Australia.
The teams will now focus on the Ford Trophy, with the Stags and Firebirds meeting again later this month at Fitzherbert Park in the second round of the one-day competition.
The Stags’ total was bolstered by Will Young’s 14th first-class century, after he top-scored with 105 runs off 167 balls.
But the Firebirds were too sharp, with scores of 262 and 269. Central answered with 215 and 248.
Meanwhile, at Hagley Park in Christchurch, the Auckland Aces drew against Canterbury.
Denying his old team a chance at victory, former Cantabrian George Worker dug in for a hard-fought unbeaten 100 off 153 balls in the second innings for the Aces.
Aces captain Robbie O’Donnell also scored a century (123 in the first innings) to take a first first-class sack of five wickets on the fourth day. O’Donnell returned 5-47 from 17.4 overs with the ball.
Canterbury posted 509 in their first innings. The Aces answered 438 and 252-6. Canterbury remain the only unbeaten side in the league and top the match log.
Meanwhile, the Northern Districts beat the Otago Volts by five wickets at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.
Batting first, the Volts posted 181 and declared at 345-9 in their second innings. The Northern Districts responded with 277 and 254-5 to lower the Volt’s total.
Tim Seifert and Neil Wagner led home the North Districts on Thursday night undefeated at 73 and 12 respectively.
The back half of the first-class Plunket Shield will resume at the end of February, following the completion of the 2022/23 Ford Trophy and Super Smash competitions.
The Ford Trophy kicks off in Wellington on Tuesday when the Firebirds host Canterbury.
Plunket Shield Points: Canterbury 52, Central Stags 46, Wellington Firebirds 45, Northern Districts 33, Auckland Aces 32, Otago Volts 31.