Rob Nicol has produced a stunning innings of 101 not out for the Canterbury Wizards in the last round of the HRV Cup, an innings that puts him at the top of the MVP rankings for the comp. Martin Guptill has looked odds on favorite for the MVP honor throughout the second half of the competition, but it has been last seasons overall domestic MVP winner Rob Nicol who has slipped into the lead.
Sunday's final will not only be Aces v Wizards, but will also double as Guptill v Nicol. Winning the HRV Cup will be a priority for both players, but it may well be the winner of the Fujitsu Heat Pumps MVP who ultimately leads their team to victory.
The Aces may have the advantage on Sunday with three players in the top six spots of the MVP rankings. Nicol leads with 132.95 points, closely followed by Guptill on 125.19. Aces import Azhar Mahmood has moved to 4th place on 104.10 points and Ronnie Hira is 6th with 87.95 MVP points.
Centuries in the final round to Jamie How and Brendon McCullum pushed them both further up the MVP leader board, with McCullum's form throughout the competition ensuring he finished in the top three of both the overall (3rd) and batting (2nd) rankings.
Ronnie Hira has been in tremendous form for the Aces during their campaign and is leading the MVP bowling rankings. Showing the value of allrounders in the HRV Cup it is Rob Nicol who trails Hira in third spot with Firebirds spearhead Andy McKay in second.
While Guptill may have lost his lead in the overall MVP rankings he is still firmly placed as the leading batter and unless fellow team mate Azhar Mahmood produces another century, looks certain to secure the MVP batting award.
MVP top 10
(after round robin stage of HRV Cup)
1. Rob Nicol - 132.95
2. Martin Guptill - 125.19
3. Brendon McCullum - 105.65
4. Azhar Mahmood - 104.10
5. Doug Bracewell - 89.49
6. Ronnie Hira - 87.95
7. Brendon Taylor - 82.29
8. James Franklin - 80.69
9. Scott Styris - 74.23
10. Hamish Marshall - 66.78
Top Batters
1. Martin Guptill - 109.99
2. Brendon McCullum - 99.65
3. Azhar Mahmood - 80.51
4. James Franklin - 72.57
5. Rob Nicol - 68.95
6. Hamish Marshall - 58.78
7. Brad Wilson - 58.57
8. Brendon Taylor - 57.29
9. Michael Pollard - 54.67
10. Jamie How - 53.39
Top Bowlers
1. Ronnie Hira - 72.68
2. Andy McKay - 50.98
3. Rob Nicol - 50.04
4. Tarun Nethula - 47.33
5. Doug Bracewell - 43.57
6. Muttiah Muralitharan - 40.90
7. Daniel Vettori - 40.73
8. Mitchell Claydon - 40.71
9. Adam Milne - 40.33
10. Kyle Mills - 40.04
* Source: NZCPA
