Cricket: McClenaghan rips through Otago in Plunket Shield

Auckland Aces bowler Mitchell McClenaghan in action. Photo / NZ Herald

Auckland seamer Mitchell McClenaghan claimed the fourth-best figures in Auckland history today to put the Aces firmly in charge of their Plunket Shield clash against Otago.

The left-armer took 8-23 from 17 overs at Colin Maiden Park to dismiss the visitors for a paltry 63 in their first innings. By the end of the opening day, Auckland had racked up 154-1, giving them a lead of 91 in a match they must win handily to keep alive their Plunket Shield hopes.

It looks likely they'll do just that, thanks to McClenaghan. The 25-year-old, in his first season with Auckland after moving from Central Districts, tore through the Otago order to finish with the best first class figures by an Auckland bowler since 1930.

McClenaghan described his feat as "pretty unreal", and said the morning held no hint anything extraordinary was about to transpire.

"It's hard to explain, to be honest. We turned up this morning and we would've done exactly what they did when they won the toss - we would've batted. It looked like it's going to be slow and take turn, so we just talked being as patient as possible and hitting the right areas.

"Collectively, we had quality, and it was just my day today."

That's an understatement. After Michael Bates picked up Otago opener Craig Cumming in the fourth over, it was all McClenaghan, as he sent eight consecutive Otago batsmen back to the pavilion.

He bowled Hamish Rutherford - coming off two centuries in Otago's recent draw with Northern Districts - with the first ball of his third over, triggering an epic collapse from the visitors.

In McClenaghan's next over, Darren Broom became the first of four Otago batsmen in a row to be caught behind by Gareth Hopkins. That streak was broken by Neil Wagner who instead chipped one to Colin de Grandhomme, reducing Otago to 37-8.

Mark Craig and Nick Beard put on 14, the Volts' best partnership, for the ninth wicket before McClenaghan rounded out his eight-for, the first of his cricketing career at any level.

Three Auckland bowlers have taken nine wickets in an innings - two of whom did so in the 19th century - but McClenaghan was denied that honour by his "good mate" de Grandhomme, who claimed the last wicket to fall.

"There were a few jokes thrown around and I'm pretty sure he'll offer to buy me a dozen of beers after the game."

McClenaghan has already taken three five-wicket bags this summer, and another in the second innings would put him close to Auckland's best bowling in a match, 14-63 by AW Rees in the 1889/90 season.

"I'll give that a crack."

He said the Colin Maiden Park pitch - a batting paradise for much of the summer - offered little assistance to the bowlers, and the only thing he did differently from previous outings came in the form of a slightly-altered run up, one he may have to keep.

"This is the first game where I've changed the angle in my run up to get a little bit of variation, and it worked a gem."

In reply, Jeet Raval (81no) and Neal Parlane (39no) backed up McClenaghan's efforts to give the Aces a dominant lead at stumps.

In the day's other games, competition leaders Northern Districts made 309 against second-placed Wellington, with Daniel Flynn (68) and Pete McGlashan (52no) making half centuries, before the hosts reached 32-0 at stumps.

In Nelson, bottom-placed Canterbury ended the day on 341-5, thanks to an unbeaten century from recent Black Cap Tom Latham and Peter Fulton's 88.