Central Stags captain Jayden Lennox has won the toss and sent in the Auckland Aces, captained by BLACKCAP Finn Allen, at University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.
Both teams have one last shot today at making this season's national men's one-day Ford Trophy Grand Final against defending champion and top qualifier, Canterbury, with the season's trophy match to be contested on Sunday, also at University of Otago Oval.
Today's 2024/25 Elimination Final is free admission, with a free livestream at www.nzc.nz, NZC YouTube and on the NZC app.
Umpires Shaun Haig (left) and Cory Black with the captains | Photosport
Like Lennox, Allen is in his first summer leading the Aces' one-day team, bringing a stacked side that includes Jimmy Neesham, Ben Lister, IPL signing Bevon Jacobs, explosive allrounders Simon Keene and Jock McKenzie, and one of the top four run-scorers in the national one-day campaign to date, match-saving keeper-batter Cam Fletcher.
The Stags have strike bowler Blair Tickner back from a bicep injury and a cluster of players - batters Curtis Heaphy, Brad Schmulian, paceman Brett Randell, left-arm spinner Lennox, and wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver in the top four nationally in their respective departments, after the completion of the regular season.
The Stags squeaked into The Ford Trophy Elimination Final as the third qualifier, and have taken five wins from 10 rounds, with one washout.
The Aces - regular champions in this format over the last decade, along with top qualifier Canterbury, nailed down second spot with six wins from their 10 rounds.
Aces captain Allen has happy memories of Dunedin, returning to the same ground where he hit a spectacular T20 century for the BLACKCAPS against Pakistan just over a year ago - an innings that featured a world record-equalling 16 sixes, among his 137 off just 62 balls.
The Aces are looking to move one step closer today to a chance to contest a national Final that they last won in 2021/22 while the Stags won this title the following season, 2022/23, against Canterbury.
The toss was delayed by 30 minutes by dew, with a revised start time of 11am.
Umpires Haig and Black with Match Referee Trudy Anderson | PHOTOSPORT
