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The Auckland Aces clinched a nail biting one run win over competition front runners the Central Stags in the HRV Cup match at Saxton Oval, Nelson.
It came down the last ball with six required to win and power hitter Jacob Oram at the crease. He launched into the Colin de Grandhomme delivery but it fell 10 metres short of the boundary to score four, handing the Aces a narrow win.
Mathew Sinclair hit 50 off 38 to get the Stags close with Tim Weston blasting 30 off 19 to take the win within reach.
It was composed bowling in the late stages by Ravi Bopara, Daryl Tuffey and de Grandhomme and a brilliant all round fielding effort that wrestled the match back from the home team.
Tuffey ended with superb figures of two for 25 with Bopara taking two for 32.
Earlier, Aces opener Lou Vincent crafted 57 off 49 to set up the innings with a few late flurries from Gareth Hopkins (23 off 15), de Grandhomme (20 off 9) and Bopara (15* off 8) lifting the total through to 162 for seven.
Oram took three wickets but leaked 36 runs with overall MVP leader Michael Mason once again producing a tidy spell, returning one for 22.
The win allows the Aces to consolidate third spot on the points table. With points shared in the rained out match between the Otago Volts and Wellington, Central have been demoted to second spot, with Otago just ahead on net run rate.
