Tulsi Wellington Firebirds 147 all out in 34.2 overs (Grant Elliott 51, Tom Blundell 48, Tarun Nethula 3-35) lost to Devon Hotel Central Stags 150-2 in 23.3 overs (Jamie How 84, Ben Smith 47) by eight wickets at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North.
A strong all round bowling performance from the Stags lead by Tarun Nethula's 3-35 had the visitors all out in the 35th over. Jamie How made 84 at better than a run a ball to help the home team win by eight wickets in just 23.3 overs.
Grant Elliott's 51 and Tom Blundell's 48 were the highlights for the home side - but when Elliott went lbw to Tarun Nethula in the 16th over, it sparked a collapse the Firebirds couldn't recover from. A fine all-round bowling performance from the Stags had the wickets shared around as they claimed the last Firebirds scalp in the 35th over.
Jamie How made 84 from 64 balls, and with Ben Smith (47*) anchoring the chase, the Stags got home in the 24th over to make their first game at Fitzherbert Park in three years a winning return. The Stags sit on top of the Ford Trophy table on a net run rate.
