Ford Trophy round up: March 6
Jamie How’s remarkable record-breaking double century in Hamilton, in a round where 2,110 runs were scored, has dominated round four of the Ford Trophy.
Five of the six teams recorded totals well over 300 (including the Firebirds’ 309 from 41 rain-shortened overs) in a round where the bat dominated the ball:
• Total runs scored by all six teams: 2,110
• Average match total: 703
• Average innings total: 351
How now shares the all time second highest List A score of 222 with South Africa’s Graeme Pollock (the highest is held by Ali Brown who scored 268 for Surrey in 2002). His innings is the all time NZ domestic List A individual high score and the first NZ List A double century. How smashed 27 fours and 8 sixes, bringing up his first 100 from 60 balls, and taking a mere 66 further to bring up his double century.
The Stags’ opening partnership of 322 between How and Jeet Ravel (who scored 115 from 106 balls) is the new partnership record for any wicket in NZ domestic List A, and fell just five runs short of the all-time List A partnership record.
The Knights approached the eye watering run chase extremely positively, with no less than five players making half centuries at better than a run a ball, including Devcich (54) and Jono Hickey (61). The Knights were bowled out for 398, an agonising 20 runs short of their goal, having picked up the highest List A team score and 9th wicket partnership records along the way. It was a match no-one who witnessed it will forget, expect maybe the two sides’ bowlers.
At Eden Park No. 2 the Auckland Aces’ two Colins, Munro and de Grandhomme combined for a NZ record 5th wicket partnership of 229, turning the innings around in spectacular fashion from 50-4. Munro posted 151 from 107 balls, while de GrandHomme ended on 115 from 85. The Aces were eventually bowled out for 356 with two balls left in their innings.
Brad Cachopa lead the charge for The Wizards, with a fine century of 126 from 117 balls to set the tone. He was backed up by Henry Nicholls and Shanan Stewart, who both made 51, as well as Logan van Beek (33) and Matt Henry (37 not out) towards the tail. In the end, the large total proved just out of reach for the Wizards, who were bowled out for 343 in the last over.
Like the first ANZ Test, the Firebirds v Volts match in Invercargill suffered rain, and was shortened to a 41 over contest. Despite that, the Firebirds batting first ran away to an imposing 309, and would have been left wondering what they would have got in 50. Jesse Ryder was explosive with 72 runs from 39, as was Papps again (88), Brodie (54), with Elliott and Boam rounding out the innings.
Nearly all the Volts’ batsmen got starts but only Sam Wells (46) and Derek de Boorder (68) were able to convert to a half century with no-one going on to make a big total. When De Boorder went out, so did Otago’s hope of reaching the total, like the other sides batting second in this round, they weren’t quite able to chase down the big total set, finishing on 287 all out.
