Kieran Noema-Barnett had a stunning day. Photo/File
It had a Black Caps v India intensity about it and captain Kieran Noema-Barnett isn't likely to forget the domestic match any time soon.
That's because the allrounder took a hattrick of wickets to spearhead the Devon Hotel Hotel Central Districts Stags to a 134-run victory over the second-placed Otago Volts in Nelson yesterday.
His three scalps for the defending Plunket Shield champions came in the last three balls of his second over in the second innings of the visitors' run chase at Saxton Oval. They certainly weren't rabbits - Otago opener Neil Broom for 11 runs and Black Caps Jesse Ryder, batting at No4, and Nathan McCullum, at No5, from successive balls.
"It still feels pretty weird but it's a pretty special moment so I'll remember that for a while," Noema-Barnett said after the Volts stuttered in trying to chase down a target of 412 runs.
CD had declared yesterday not long after opening batsman Jamie How chalked up his maiden first-class double century (207 not out) after sitting on 194 runs at stumps on Sunday.
In claiming three wickets in successive balls, right-arm medium pacer Noema-Barnett, 23, became the sixth player to accomplish the feat for the Stags in the red-ball competition.
"It was quality. I guess the guys were good enough to nick it but I needed a bit of luck."
How caught Broom, Greg Hay got Ryder and McCullum feathered his to wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.
In fact, Noema-Barnett hastened to add CD legspinner Tarun Nethula "had a few ideas of where I should put it" before the hattrick ball.
"Oh yes, Tarun usually does, so ... mmm ... yeah, I sort of put it where he said it should go," he said with a laugh.
The Sharpies Driving Range Taradale Cricket Club premier men's player said it was nice to claim the scalp of former Bay batsman Ryder, who had scored an unbeaten 100 in Otago's first dig.
"We've been on the end of a lot of tons from him and he got one in the first innings, so he's quality, too," he said of Ryder, who has hogged the media headlines for the past few days.
He and CD allrounder Doug Bracewell broke Black Caps team protocol to drink at an Auckland bar into the wee hours of the morning on Waitangi Day, the opening day of the first cricket test against India at Eden Park.
Ryder played for the Volts from Friday but Bracewell pulled up lame after breaking his foot, prompting New Zealand Cricket to conduct an investigation into the matter.
However, the last few days also belonged to CD and, on a serious note, Noema-Barnett put his achievement and just the Stags' second win of the 2013-14 summer in two formats down to the collective's efforts.
"It was a good game of cricket and good to be involved with because lots of guys contributed," said the Dunedin-born skipper of the win against his former team.
The game was "pretty tight" yesterday for CD, who earned plaudits from Noema-Barnett, especially the bowlers on what was a flat track.
Like India, the Volts showed intent when No6 batsman Jimmy Neesham scored 147 runs from 135 balls, including 17 boundaries and four sixes, to find himself back in the equation for the Black Caps' second-test side against India in Wellington from Friday, with Ryder and Bracewell facing suspensions.
It was allrounder Neesham's second first-class ton and he chalked up his 1000th first-class run when he reached 93 yesterday before he eclipsed his highest score of 125. He fell prey to CD spinner Ajaz Patel.
On a day of milestones, recalled CD opening bowler Seth Rance, of Wairarapa, also claimed his best first-class figures of 4-82 in the second innings.
Noema-Barnett, who coach Heinrich Malan had highlighted in the previous round in a drawn match against the Northern Districts Knights for underbowling himself, also contributed immensely against Otago with the bat.
The left-hander, who came to national and international prominence as a white-ball blaster, scored 74 in the first dig and 60 in the second.
Opening CD batsman Ben Smith, who retired hurt on Sunday on 11 after Neesham's bouncer stayed low to catch him between the eyes, returned briefly to add two more runs yesterday when Noema-Barnett departed.
Smith took five stitches to the cut on Sunday, added to three above an eye after a ball had caught him on the hop at training.
"Yes, Ben did take another one [hit on Sunday] to his beautiful face and he's worried a bit about how it could affect his pretty-boy image permanently," Noema-Barnett said of the Ruahine Motors Ford Central Hawke's Bay cricketer, who also is in fine form with the bat in the last two rounds.
If anything, the Stags' jocularity suggests the team are slowly finding their mojo after a win-less HRV Cup Twenty20 campaign that left them last for the past two summers.
The one-day Ford Trophy campaign doesn't begin until next month (March 2 against the Wellington Firebirds) but before that CD play shield leaders the Canterbury Wizards at MainPower Oval, Rangiora, from Sunday.
The Stags return home from there to host the Wizards at McLean Park, Napier, from the following Sunday.