ROUND 1 of 10
AUCKLAND ACES defeated CENTRAL STAGS by 39 runs
20 October 2024
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Points: Auckland Aces 4, Central Stags 0
SELECTED MILESTONES
- Jayden Lennox first match as Central Stags captain
- Bevon-John Jacobs: Auckland Aces debut (previously Canterbury)
- Will O'Donnell: second List A century
- Will O'Donnell: List A career best score (115)
- Jimmy Neesham: 150 career List A wickets
All images: PHOTOSPORT
The Auckland Aces have enjoyed their trips to Pukekura Park in recent editions of The Ford Trophy, and this was one more to add to that list.
The Stags could take some consolation for making them work for the win. It was the longest match of the opening day of the season, delayed by a dampish ground for half an hour and finishing when the long shadows had already devoured the pitch.
But the sun shone throughout, the regular crowd turned out, and only the Stags went home disappointed after an entertaining show that had BLACKCAPS Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham and Josh Clarkson on display.
In his first match as home captain, Jayden Lennox bowled first and his senior paceman Blair Tickner took a haul of four in his first trot of the season (4/66).
Brett Randell (1/48) took over from the missing Doug Bracewell's place as the other half of the opening attack and bowled well in his first match for his team in 11 months.
The Central attack collectively restricted the Aces to 244 on the boutique ground, but one man stood in their way for most of it, with a 124-ball century.
Tall, powerful Will O'Donnell ultimately reached 115 off 132 and he paced himself nicely. After some early let-offs in the field, he lifted the intensity through the latter stages in a definitive 98-run third-wicket stand with Mike Sclanders (40 off 52).
The Stags fought back with some late strikes from Tickner and Randell - including O'Donnell himself, in the penultimate over of the Aces' innings.
But he'd done the damage by then, in command with nine boundaries and four sixes.
Sclanders and Bevon-John Jacobs (who stepped back and blasted Tickner back over his head in one of the most powerful strikes of the day) chipped in sixes as well as the Aces looked to keep hold of the reins.
The Stags would need almost five an over in reply, but Danru Ferns and Neesham did some crucial damage at the top.
from 33/3, the Stags steadied thanks to some grit from the young Curtis Heaphy and local hero Tom Bruce who top-scored for his team with a blistering 73 off 65 balls.
Bruce produced the other shot of the day when he carved Simon Keene back over his head into the terraces, among four sixes and seven fours.
But the Stags were a little behind the eight ball throughout, while the Aces had the knack of taking key wickets just when they were needed.
Bruce's 66-run stand with Heaphy proved to be the best of the innings, and Will Clark was the team's last hope with a quick 45 before the Aces' strong attack closed in.
The Stags remain at Pukekura Park to play Northern Districts this Wednesday, both those sides still looking for their first win. The Aces go to Bay Oval at the Mount where they will be technically the hosts of the Wellington Firebirds.
