Defending champion Canterbury has joined the Aces as qualifiers for The Ford Trophy Finals — leaving just one spot left for either the Stags, Firebirds or Volts with the last round this Sunday.
The Otago Volts did everything they could to keep their Ford Trophy hopes alives today with a one-sided, bonus-point away win over the shocked Central Stags in the penultimate round.
The Stags were in danger of recording their lowest ever one-day total after the Volts sent them in and had them 31/5 inside the first nine overs at Napier’s McLean Park.
Opener Brad Schmulian (78) weathered the electrical storm conjured up by Matt Bacon (3/24) and Andrew Hazeldine (3/31 and two catches) and nearly carried his bat to get the hosts to 162, but that still wasn’t enough to stop the southerners, the Stags getting themselves in the contest with the ball too late to prevent a five-wicket loss.
PHOTOSPORT
Today’s other two clashes were both rain-reduced affairs.
In Hamilton, Tim Seifert starred for Northern as he blasted a one-day career-best unbeaten 109* off just 71 balls after the hosts were sent in by Canterbury, but Canterbury would finish the day back on top of the table, holding a two-point edge over the Aces with one round to go before Finals.
In a match reduced to 39 overs, Northern’s 262/5 set a required rate of almost seven per over but Rhys Mariu’s 87 at the top initially put Canterbury well on track. Northern fought back with a clump of wickets, but timely sixes from Zak Foulkes and Michael Rippon got the chase back into run-a-ball territory.
Foulkes was a big wicket for Kristian Clarke in a tight chase, but Canterbury ultimately got home with three wickets and 11 balls to spare.
PHOTOSPORT
In Wellington, 21-year-old Mo Abbas had a top all-round day as the Firebirds won a thriller against the high-rolling Auckland Aces to stay alive, in a game reduced to 31 overs per side.
Jock McKenzie top-scored with 50 in the Aces’ 194/6 while Abbas went on a giant-killing spree — claiming career-best figures of 3/34 with the wickets of Finn Allen (45), Jimmy Neesham (7) and Bevon Jacobs (29).
The Firebirds lost opener Tim Robinson early in reply, in luckless fashion — the ball popping up from a defensive shot as he jammed down on a Ben Lister yorker, only for it to fall onto his stumps.
Abbas was key to controlling the chase, reaching his 50 off 28 balls before Neesham took his revenge with a return catch.
Captain Nick Kelly slapped Neesham for six a couple moments later while Jesse Tashkoff’s unbeaten 84* — backing up his 148 in the previous game — got the Firebirds got across the line for a seven-wicket win with one ball to spare.
The results mean Canterbury now joins the Aces as qualifiers for the Finals — leaving just one spot open for either the Stags, Firebirds or Volts.
- A Stags win in their final round in New Plymouth this Saturday, against the Firebirds, will secure the Stags the berth. A washout or tie would leave the ball in the Volts’ court.
- If the Firebirds win and Volts meanwhile lose their match against Northern Districts in Invercargill, the Firebirds will progress.
- If both the Firebirds and Volts win, and finish on the same points, the final spot will go to the Volts who have two more bonus points than the Firebirds.
- Meanwhile the winner of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash in Rangiora between Canterbury and the Auckland Aces will get the direct entry slot in the Grand Final, with Canterbury claiming the spot in the event of a washout or tie.
