Defending champion into Grand Final

Posted Friday, 13 February, 2026 in Domestic News

Canterbury has sealed the top qualifier’s direct entry spot in next Sunday’s 2026 Ford Trophy Grand Final with a match to spare, after a lightning-quick eight-wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds at a lively Hagley Oval this afternoon.

Meanwhile a Nelson washout has seen the Central Stags book a spot in Friday's Elimination Final.

One spot is left, and Northern Districts and the Firebirds will be competing head-to-head for it when they play against each other on Tuesday at the Cello Basin Reserve.

The winner will join the Stags later in the week in the knockout at the same venue, with the Aces and Volts now both out of the running.

CANTERBURY WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS SCORES

After rolling their opponent for 68 in 22.2 overs — the Firebirds’ third-lowest one-day total of all time, Canterbury chased down the runs in 11.5 overs, Henry Nicholls unbeaten on 44* off 38 balls.

Earlier, Michael Rae had taken his best figures of 5/15 - his maiden one-day bag for Canterbury, while his career best remains a stunning 7/35 for the Otago Volts against the Auckland Aces in Auckland in 2020, still a Volts record for best bowling in a one-day innings.

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Today's bonus-point victory was in the bag before lunchtime which was right on point for the hosts with rain forecast to arrive in Christchurch this afternoon.

Now unable to be caught on the ladder, Canterbury will head into Tuesday’s Round 10 against the Central Stags in Nelson having won seven of their matches so far in this campaign, with only one loss.

The two Elimination Final qualifiers are yet to be inked in, the Stags second on the ladder and the Firebirds holding interim third spot despite their battering at Hagley today — pending results in Nelson and Whangārei where rain has interrupted the respective games.