ROUND FOUR
NORTHERN DISTRICTS lost to AUCKLAND ACES by 54 runs
Cobham Oval, Whangārei
Auckand Aces 4 points
GEORGE WORKER | All images PHOTOSPORT
Auckland Ace Finn Allen lit up the fourth round of the national men's one-day Ford Trophy with his second century in the space of just three games - the win snatching The Ford Trophy lead off previously undefeated Northern Districts.
On big Cobham Oval, Allen showed his clean striking with a knock of 120 off just 97 balls, after ND captain Jerry Raval had sent the Aces in, and he shared a record stand with George Worker to boot.
Allen got off the mark with a boundary first ball of the game, but it was a considered start from the veteran Worker and young star Allen as they bided their time for the boundary ball.
By the 15-over mark, they'd taken the score to 84 for no loss and Allen cracked his second six off Tim Pringle next ball.
The spinners, Pringle and Walker, felt the brunt of Allen's six sixes (to go with eight boundaries) so it was with some relief that they watched Allen depart, bowled by Kristian Clarke off the last ball of the 30th over.
By then, the dream team of Worker and Allen had created a 194-run opening stand, a new Aces record in matches against their northern neighbours.
Worker carried on for a few overs more to reach 63 before Walker rejoiced in his wicket at 209/3.
The Aces weren't done with the statchat, however, as Cam Fletcher (52* off 41 balls) sauntered in and smashed a new sixth-wicket record stand for the Aces in matches against ND.
His partner was Ryan Harrison (33* off 32, below) and the two men were unbeaten at the end of the 50 overs, the Aces having plastered 307/5 on the board.
It was a good total for Whangārei and ND needed a good start to match their visitors.
Katene Clarke (31) and Tim Seifert (26) put on 59 for the first wicket but the hosts did not enjoy the same big early platform upon which to build, as the Aces chipped out regular wickets.
Captain Sean Solia had his first in the ninth over, then the spinner Adi Ashok and Louis Delport struck. ND's top four got good starts, but no one went on to a fifty.
At 146/5, the pendulum was in the Aces' favour as big hitter Brett Hampton tried to rescue his team.
He reached 67 off just 54 balls before Ashok struck again in the 44th over, and the Aces would wrap it up in the 47th to go top of the table for the first time this summer.
ND now awaits the Central Stags at the same venue on Tuesday, both teams locked in second spot on 11 points.
