Otago, thanks to Brendon McCullum (41*) and Jordan Sheed (24*) have mounted a fight back after earlier being in dire straits. If this pair can keep their partnership going for another several overs, they look like winning.

Following the first drinks break, Otago had come out needing 4.26 runs an over to overhaul Wellington’s total of 177. This was a very gettable proposition, but they only had 6 wickets remaining.

The key was going to be McCullum. He was partnered by Sheed.

McCullum and Sheed had Ashley Turner to contend with as well. Bowling with the moderate northerly breeze, Turner was bowling a demanding spell. His figures after his first four overs were 3 for 8.

Turner was being ably supported by Matthew Walker. Walker continued to put the squeeze on. After 20 overs Otago were 41 for 4.

From the 19th through to the 22nd over, a total of 2 runs were scored.

After 22 overs, Otago were 42 for 4. The run rate was 1.91.

McCullum muscled his first 6 two overs later. He launched into a full ball over long on to move to 21. This rare shot of aggression brought up the Otago 50.

Through 25 overs the score was 51 for 4.

Mayu Pasupati was introduced from the southern end in the 26th over and McCullum plundered him for 5 runs, including a four through cover point. Sheed hit him for four in his next over as well.

Paul Hitchcock was brought back from the northern end and he continued to plug the scoring with lots of full, tight bowling.

They were 76 for 4 after 30 overs, requiring a further 102 off 120 deliveries.

The left arm spin of Mark Jefferson replaced Hitchcock in the 31st over. McCullum survived two confident LBW shouts in his first over, a maiden.

Franklin came back for his second spell in the 32nd over and was duly driven for four by Sheed first ball.

McCullum then drove the first ball of Jefferson’s next over for 6.

This brought up the 50 partnership, off 104 balls.

At the crease is Brendon McCullum on 10 and Jordan Sheed, who has yet to score.

Ashley Turner currently has figures of 3 overs, 3 for 7.

A fired up Firebirds outfit had taken the field determined to wreak maximum havoc on the Volts as they set out to defend their total of 177.

Former internationals Paul Hitchcock and James Franklin got the Wellington side off to an encouraging start with a tidy opening couple of overs.

Unlike the Wellington openers, who never really got going, the Otago opening pair of Muhhamed Wasim and Captain Craig Cumming were prepared to be cautious.

Otago were 6 without loss after 3 overs.

However, Franklin broke through in the 4th over by bowling Wasim. Wasim half-heartedly went forward to a full-length delivery and was bowled for 0. 6/1.

Marcel McKenzie joined Cumming at the crease and the sedate start to their run chase continued. After 6 overs Otago has progressed to 13/1.

McKenzie was looking astute at the crease. He then raced into double figures with a glorious on drive down the ground off Franklin.

Ashley Turner was brought on in the 9th over to replace Hitchcock (4 overs for 7 runs) and had immediate success by trapping Cumming LBW for 2 (off 21 balls). Otago were now in trouble at 18 for 2.

The trouble was dire two overs later. McKenzie edged a Turner out swinger to Neal Parlane at second slip. He made 11 and Otago were teetering at 19 for 3.

The two new batsmen, Chris Gaffaney and Brendon McCullum had the task of resurrecting the run chase. The pair safely negotiated the next two overs. After 13 overs they were 37 for 3 and the required run rate had climbed above 4 per over. If McCullum needed a stage to impress the national selectors, this was it.

Matthew Walker replaced Franklin (6 overs, 2 maidens, 1 for 15) from the southern end in the 15th over.

Turner was bowling superbly however. He clean bowled Gaffaney for 6 with an excellent in swinging yorker. 35/4 in the 16th over. Turner now had 3 wickets in as many overs.

The healthy crowd was enthralled as Jordan Sheed came out to join McCullum.

This was after Wellington, thanks to Mark Jefferson (38) and James Franklin (16*) put on 43 for the 9th wicket. Wellington were bowled out in the last over.

Earlier, Wellington had needed Grant Donaldson to bat out the innings and act as the anchor in order for them to post a decent total to defend later in the afternoon.

It was parsimonious going however.

But Paul Hitchcock then pulled the innings out of its slumber in the 37th over, when he first walloped a four off the bowling of Shayne O’Conner over midwicket, then hooked O’Conner over the fine leg fence for 6.

After 37 overs Wellington were 116 for 5. Donaldson was on 41 and Hitchcock was on 14.

The crawl resumed from the next over. Nathan Morland was brought back from the northern end in the 40th over and continued to deny the batsmen many scoring opportunities. His line and flight was exemplary.

Meanwhile, O’Conner continued his second spell from the southern end and had success in the 41st over.

Thanks to an excellent diving catch by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. Hitchcock (17) attempted to run O’Conner down to third man and only succeeded in finding the sprawling McCullum. Wellington were now 124 for 6.

Three balls later O’Conner bowled Donaldson (46) with a full swinging delivery. 126 for 7.

Hard hitting Mayu Pasupati and Mark Jefferson found themselves with the task of reestablishing the innings with 8 overs remaining.

O’Conner finished his spell. His figures were 10 overs, 2 maidens, 3 for 40. He was replaced by James McMillan.

Pasupati was run out for 3 in the 44th over. Going for a second run, Peter McGlashan ran him out at the bowlers end. 134/8.

Morland then finished his 10 overs. He was well rewarded with figures of 1 for 31.

Jefferson and Franklin played a cameo in the next few overs. The 150 was posted in the 47th over.

The next over, bowled by McSkimming, went for 6. 162 for 8 after 48 overs.

Jefferson drove the first ball of the 49th over (Cumming) for four, then took two 2’s, a single. Franklin took 2 from the last ball. 173/8 with one over remaining.

Jefferson paddled the first ball of the last over, bowled by McSkimming for four, then was bowled the next ball. He made 31 (28 balls). 177/8.

Ashley Turner was run out the next ball. 177/8.

After 34 overs Wellington are 103 for 5. Grant Donaldson is on 39 and Paul Hitchcock is on 4.

Wellington approached the middle stages of its innings in a lot of trouble. Grant Donaldson and new batsman Matthew Walker had the task of both consolidating the innings and lifting the run rate.

After 21 overs the Firebirds had limped to 51 for 4, scoring at a run rate of barely 2 and a half per over.

This was in the face of a pitch that providing plenty of seam assistance to the bowlers and an Otago team desperate to shut Wellington down and win with a bonus point.

Medium pacers Warren McSkimming and Craig Cumming continued to operate in tandem.

It was Donaldson that went about upping the ante. He raced to 16 with a couple of precision drives for boundaries. Donaldson was prepared to use his feet and come right forward.

The spin of Nathan Morland replaced Cumming (5 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 12) from the 25th over, while McMillan was brought back into the attack in the next over.

Both bowlers re-put the squeeze on Wellington. Morland in particular was bowling with good flight and was extracting plenty of turn from the pitch.

After 27 overs, Wellington was 74 for 4. Donaldson was on 18 and Walker was on 7.

Cumming brought himself back on from the 32nd over and had instant success when Walker played a ball on. He tried to cut a ball that was too close in to him. He scored 10 (off 39 balls) and Wellington was 86 for 5 in the 32nd over.

Hitchcock joined Donaldson (30*).

Donaldson then progressed to 35 and Wellington really needed him to stay there if they wanted to post a decent total to defend.

The 100 was posted in the 34th over.

Richard Jones had just got out caught at the wicket off the bowling of Warren McSkimming for a 8.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bowl first in a game they need to win with a bonus point to give themselves the best chance of making the semi final round of the competition, Otago wanted the best possible start.

And they got just that. With the very first ball of the match, Shayne O’Conner had Chris Nevin caught by Marcel McKenzie at backward point. Nevin attempted to slash a wide ball through the in field and only succeeded in finding the safe hands of McKenzie.

Following some heavy overnight rain, the pitch was offering plenty of assistance early on for O’Conner and his new ball partner James McMillan. O’Conner in particular looked threatening as he bowled with a good deal of control.

It was an awkward period for Matthew Bell and his new batting partner, Neal Parlane.

The pair carefully negotiated the remaining 5 overs. After 5 overs Wellington were 13 for 1. Bell was on 7 and Parlane 4.

Bell was showing a willingness to play his shots. He was prepared to be aggressive to kick start Wellington’s innings.

He gave a chance in the sixth over though when he mistimed a hook shot off O’Conner by hitting it high to fine leg. The fielder, McMillan, couldn’t oblige however, as he dropped a straightforward catch.

His luck ran out two overs later when he carved an inswinging McMillan delivery pitched on a good length to Nathan Morland at point. He made 13. Wellington were in trouble at 25 for 2.

McSkimming replaced McMillan (5 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for 4) in the twelfth over.

Captain Craig Cumming replaced O’Conner (7 overs, 2 maidens, 1 for 23) in the fifteenth over.

Wellington were finding it hard going. After 15 overs, they were 37 for 2. Parlane was on 19 (46 balls), while Richard Jones was finding it tough. He had yet to get off the mark after facing 17 balls.

Parlane was then out in the 16th over when McSkimming bowled him with a full-length ball that deceived him off the pitch. Wellington were in trouble at 37 for 3.

With only 5 competition points separating the six sides, this game is crucial for the title aspirations of both teams.

Depending on what happens in the other to State Shield games today, a win for Wellington should propel them into a top three position.

Only a win for Otago, preferably with a bonus point will give them a chance for the top three.

Otago captain Craig Cumming has won the toss and has elected to field first.

While conditions are fine and sunny in Wellington today, there was a considerable amount of overnight rain, which has freshened up the ground.

A new pitch is being used today and it looks like it will offer plenty of assistance to the Otago new ball pairing of James McMillan and Shayne O’Conner. McMillan takes the new ball with the absence of Kerry Walmsley who is injured.

The teams are as follows,

Wellington: Matthew Bell (captain), Grant Donaldson, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Paul Hitchcock, Mark Jefferson, Richard Jones, Chris Nevin, Neal Parlane, Mayu Pasupati, Ashley Turner and Matthew Walker. Gillespie will be twelfth man.

Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Muhammad Wasim, Chris Gaffany, Brendon McCullum, Marcel Mckenzie, Peter McGlashan, Jordan Sheed, Warren McSkimming, Nathan Morland, Shayne O’Conner, James McMillan, David Sewell (twelfth man).

The umpires are: Billy Bowden and Tony Hill.