Day One
ACES Captain Robbie O’Donnell led the way on a tough day of cricket against Canterbury at the Outer Oval.
Coming in at 37/2, the skipper set about rebuilding the ACES innings after winning the toss and electing to bat first. A promising partnership with Cole Briggs for the fourth wicket helped the ACES go to lunch at 82/3.
The lunchtime score represented a fair session of back-and-forth cricket, but one the ACES will have been please to have come through. Canterbury then hit back at the start of the afternoon session. 89/3 became 97/5 as Briggs fell to Sean Davey (4-45) soon after lunch.
O’Donnell then found excellent support in all-rounder Ross ter Braak. The pair put together 121 runs for the sixth wicket, standing up to a committed Canterbury attack.
With the ACES back towards Day One parity and O’Donnell nearing a second successive century, the skipper was trapped in front for 93 off 156 balls.
Will Williams (3-32) and Ed Nuttall (3-90) sensed an opening. Though ter Braak (57) brought up his maiden First-Class fifty, the tail couldn’t come to terms with the new ball and the ACES were bowled out for 235 in the 87th over.
A fruitless seven overs followed before stumps. The ACES bowlers will look to fire up for Day Two.