Cricket: Firebirds rise like phoenix

Historically, VJ Day signifies the Allies' victory over Japan in the Second World War.

On Saturday it could equally have described the day Vaughn Johnson, or "VJ" as he is known among his players, coached Wellington to a 53-run win over Canterbury in the State Shield one-day final at the Basin Reserve.

It had looked like Johnson's players were fighting a losing battle.

After reaching 146 for one in the 34th over, they had a score of at least 250 in their sights, but the pressure of the occasion got the better of them. The last seven wickets fell for 46 and the Firebirds nose-dived to 200-9 in their 50 overs.

Johnson and his players had insisted all week that this was a new era, and it was disrespectful to associate them with the Wellington side of the 1990s who had earned an unenviable reputation for being chokers in losing their previous four one-day finals.

But a batting collapse of that magnitude served only to bring out the old skeletons and question whether the new chums had any more guts than their predecessors.

At 93 for two in the 25th over, Canterbury were better placed, but a couple of runouts then turned the game. In the first, the promising Peter Fulton was the architect of his demise, and the second was the result of a slick piece of fielding by man-of-the-match David Sales.

Aaron Redmond hit a ball firmly towards mid-wicket and when it looked as though it would beat Sales, Canterbury captain Gary Stead set off for a run.

The burly Sales showed agility to dive to his right to gather the ball, and - still on the ground - throw the ball to bowler Matthew Walker, who broke the stumps before Stead could get back.

In a game of huge swings, this was the most defining moment.

Stead, a former international, had been outstanding in the series and Canterbury needed him to play a long innings.

His departure at 101 for four largely signalled the end for the visitors. They crumbled, losing their last nine wickets for 74, and Wellington now hold all three national titles. They collected a hat-trick of Max crowns in November and the four-day championship they won last summer will not be decided again until next month.

"We weren't looking that good one part of it. It was a very poor batting performance, especially after the start we had," Johnson said.

"We lost wickets at silly times, no one could get a start. We only put the pressure on and fell over for 200. But the character of the side came through. I'm thrilled to bits. I'm very proud of the side as a unit.

"When I took over coaching Wellington [just after the one-day final in 1999] the association was keen for me to get our one-day game right.

"I didn't think I'd done that [until now]."

- NZPA