Cricket: Lightning volts

In case you needed reminding, Jeff Wilson is a once-in-a-generation sportsman.

The double All Black turned in a typical Boys' Own performance at Eden Park yesterday, smashing a rapid-fire 50 with the bat, then helping the Otago Volts rip through the Auckland batting to win by plenty.

Otago scored 295-7, before the Aces crumbled to 143 all out.

In his fifth over he bowled a triple-wicket maiden and was only denied a hat-trick when Reece Young squeezed out a 'jaffa' of a yorker. He finished with 3-23 from eight excellent overs. Oh, he took a decent sort of boundary catch too.

This all just a lusty blow from where rugby fans have delighted in him crossing the white line for the All Blacks and Otago.

But cricket is his raison d'etre now and Wilson couldn't have made it any clearer he is hungry, though he was quick to play down his chances of a Black Caps recall more than a decade after he last played for them.

"I can't even fathom that at the moment," was his frank assessment of his chances. "I have one good day then I have one bad day. You've got to get consistency.

"The great thing about this State Shield competition is the Black Caps are back and you can really gauge where you're at."

Wilson admits he found the transition back from rugby to cricket harder than he expected.

"It's tough. I really do think first-class cricket is a lot tougher than when I used to play. I'm enjoying it; I feel really frustrated some days, but I'm feeling a lot better this year than I have in previous years."

As for his knock, he was keen to play that down as well.

"I've been struggling a bit lately. It just happened to be a pitch that suited me, and the fact that I was going in with 12 overs to go. I mean, anyone can go in there and swing away."

Yes, but not everyone can do it to such great effect.

It was opener Chris Gaffaney's misfortune to score a near flawless century on the same day as a Wilson tour de force, but his 101 not out proved he was in the form of his career.

His opening partnership of 145 with captain Craig Cumming (73) gave Otago a grip on the game they were never to relinquish.

"Gaff batted fantastically," Wilson said. "We haven't had someone bat through, so he did a great job."

Gaffaney also put away his tendency to look for a million dollar shot to each ball.

"He's a bit of a free spirit when he bats, but found he began to struggle, couldn't hit boundaries so pushed the singles and that's what we needed from him."

For a long time now the unloved child of New Zealand cricket, Otago turned on a performance of rare quality.

After Wilson and Gaffaney ensured Otago's great start wouldn't be wasted after some frivolous middle-order batting, attention turned to the big bats of the Aces.

However James McMillan (cousin of Craig), Warren McSkimming and Wilson in particular ensured they wouldn't get close by ripping the guts out of the top and middle orders. McMillan took the first three wickets to fall, but he will bowl better and get less reward this season.

Some woeful Aces batting on a wicket that held only the odd demon form Otago aided him.

Wilson needed no assistance from the deck. His first wicket - Aaron Barnes - was the result of a magnificent McMillan catch at third man, while Paul Hitchcock and Andre Adams had their middle poles removed.

Fringe Black Caps player Tama Canning was the best of the Auckland bowlers, taking 3-40.

Lou Vincent scored a breezy 28 before gifting his wicket and Kyle Mills continued to go from strength to strength with the bat. Mills prevented Auckland from absolute embarrassment with 35.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY