2022/23 • ELIMINATION FINAL
CANTERBURY beat OTAGO VOLTS by 129 runs
Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
17 February 2023
Selected milestones
7th List A century (5th for Canterbury): Chad Bowes
Maiden List A century: Leo Carter
Second List A five-wicket bag: Michael Rae
All images: PHOTOSPORT
Canterbury opener Chad Bowes's fifth Ford Trophy century (126 off 108 balls) and a maiden ton from Leo Carter set up a big total in Queenstown, where Canterbury was sent in this morning by Otago Volts captain Hamish Rutherford in the Elimination Final.
Michael Rae (5-57) made two early breakthroughs for the home team, and finished with two strikes off his last two balls in the knockout to claim a five-wicket bag.
But Bowes and Carter (below) had meanwhile retaliated with a 162-run stand for the third wicket that fell just 12 runs short of the Canterbury List A record against all teams for the third, and created a new record mark against Otago.
Bowes batted into the 35th over before he was finally dismissed by Michael Rippon at 196/3.
Canterbury captain Cole McConchie (below) picked up where Bowes left off, scoring a quick half century, his 52 flying from just 27 balls before he was caught off Glenn Phillips.
Carter (104 off 119) meanwhile ploughed on past his previous career best of 67 not out to reach his maiden Ford Trophy List A century for his team, pushing the red and black total above 300.
The Volts were in for a big chase. The total of 350/8 was Canterbury's fifth highest ever in this format, on a scorching afternoon in fast conditions. Canterbury had plundered 10 sixes amongst them and the Volts were left needing their fifth highest total in reply if they were to knock the red and blacks out.
But the chase got off to a tough start, Max Chu departing for a golden duck in the first over when he was bowled by Henry Shipley at 0/1.
Captain Rutherford again took charge at the top with a half century to back up his ton in the previous clutch round, but he watched another two partners - the valuable Dean Foxcroft and Glenn Phillips, both victims of Will O'Rourke, depart cheaply.
By the 25-over mark. the Volts were already staring at a required rate above nine, and with Rutherford having been stopped in his tracks in the 19th over, that rate soon climbed into double digits.
Jake Gibson slapped five sixes in a quick half ton (59 off 39) in a last-ditch effort with Ben Lockrose to pump up the scoreboard.
But McConchie picked up both their wickets in quick succession, as well as Josh Finnie's, and the Volts were down to their last men.
O'Rourke finished with a four-fa, Ed Nuttall wrapping up the last wicket with 11 overs to spare.
Canterbury had qualified for the cyclone-postponed Grand Final against the Central Stags, whenever that might be.
