With two centuries in three games, new Canterbury captain Henry Nicholls is leading from the front as his side stays on track for a possible Ford Trophy threepeat.
After his unbeaten 117* in the first round against the Otago Volts, today Nicholls smashed 138 off 124 balls to help Canterbury post a formidable 337/8 against the Auckland Aces in the ‘2025 Grand Final Rematch’ at Hagley Oval.
The old firm of Nicholls and Tom Latham (78) poured on 166 for the second wicket to control the first innings, after having been sent in by their arch rivals.
Wickets clattered at the death, but that was too little too late for competition leaders the Aces who were left staring at a big target.
In reply, they gave it a good nudge to post 316/9, but had needed 26 off the last over with just one wicket in hand, and lost by 21 runs.
Still, the Aces’ fighting spirit with maiden half centuries to both Ryan Harrison (70 off 47) and captain Adi Ashok (61 not out off 38) in the tail prevented Canterbury from taking a bonus point that would have seen them park up next to them at the top of the table; instead Canterbury now sits just one point below in second spot — level with the Central Stags who meanwhile took four points in Dunedin.
#FORDTROPHY | Wellington Firebird Tim Robinson adds his maiden one-day century to last month's T20 @BLACKCAPS 💯; the Firebirds winning by 3 wickets. pic.twitter.com/3GyanwQ133
— #NZIII (@MargotButcher) November 3, 2025
In Hamilton, Tim Robinson followed up last month’s maiden BLACKCAPS T20 century with his maiden hundred in List A one-day cricket as the Wellington Firebirds calmly chased down a target of 234 to beat Northern Districts by three wickets.
Northern had ended their innings nine down after an injury blow for Tim Seifert who retired hurt after having been struck on the hand by James Hartshorn in the first over of the day.
A clump of early wickets followed, Northern’s allrounders in the middle before the 20-over mark —but a typically explosive knock of 68 from Brett Hampton and handy 31 from Ben Pomare helped resuscitate the hosts to 233/9 in 46.3 overs (with Seifert unable to resume).
Hartshorn continued his good run early this season with a tidy 2/20 off eight overs. He proved a handful on the Seddon Park pitch, as did fellow paceman Michael Snedden who took one-day career best figures of 4/53 — his first four-wicket haul in List A cricket.
Robinson’s maiden 113 off 118 balls, including 14 boundaries and three sixes, set up a second consecutive win for Wellington, with Josh Brown consoled by his career best 3/35 for Northern.
In Dunedin, the closest contest of the day went deep as the Central Stags managed to prevent the Otago Volts from snatching their first victory.
The Volts had sent the Stags in, with Tom Bruce marking a return to form with a top score of 72 for the visitors — after two golden ducks in his previous two games this season.
Jarrod McKay was the most successful bowler of the home attack with 3/39 helping to contain the Stags to 233/8 in their 50 overs, but with the bat, the hosts struggled to up the ante at key times.
Troy Johnson swatted 50 from just 40 balls, but partnerships didn't kick on and wickets tumbled regularly — Josh Clarkson’s 3/23 (including three maidens) through the middle helping the Stags to regain some control.
The chase went down to the 49th over, tailenders Danru Ferns and Matt Bacon threatening to win the match as they put on a gung-ho 49 in just 31 balls for the eighth wicket.
Stags captain Jayden Lennox broke their stand by bowling Bacon in the 48th, then left-armer Ray Toole bowled Ferns for a 23-ball 41 just four balls later, the Stags winning the nerve-jangler by just seven runs.
Ferns's knock was just one run shy of his List A career best 42 not out.
Round Four this Saturday
- The Stags head to Auckland for a rematch of last season’s Elimination Final with the Aces
- The Volts head to the Cello Basin Reserve to play the Firebirds
- Northern Districts remain at Seddon Park for a big game against Canterbury
- STATCHAT SPOTLIGHT
- Henry Nicholls: 10th List A Century (9th for Canterbury, second this season)
- Highest 2nd wicket partnership (Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham) for Canterbury against Auckland Aces of 166 runs
RESULTS
At Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Canterbury beat Auckland Aces by 21 runs
Points: Canterbury 4, Auckland Aces 0
At Seddon Park, Hamilton
Northern Districts lost to Wellington Firebirds by 3 wickets
Points: Northern Districts 0, Wellington Firebirds 4
At University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Otago Volts lost to Central Stags by 7 runs
Points: Otago Volts 0, Central Stags 4
POINTS AT A GLANCE
