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The Auckland Aces have consolidated their position at the top of the table with a six wicket win over the Canterbury Wizards at QEII Park in Christchurch.
The Ace’s victory was built around a blistering 97 not out by Martin Guptill as the visitors chased down 160 with an over to spare.
Guptill only used 60 balls in a sparkling innings that included seven boundaries and four sixes.
Captain Gareth Hopkins was the only other Aces batsmen to feature with a run-a-ball 25.
Canterbury strike bowler, Chris Martin, picked up two for 22 off three overs.
Earlier, the Wizards couldn’t capitalise on a solid platform laid by openers Rob Nicol and Michael Papps.
The pair put on 79 in just 81 overs with Papps the first to go after reaching 20 off 19 deliveries.
Nicol kicked on before eventually falling on 58 off 33. The rest of the Wizards line scratched around as they stuttered through to 160 for eight.
English import, Ravi Bopara, put the brakes on taking, three wickets and only conceding 21 runs with the rest of the scalps shared around. Bopara has now vaulted into the top ten in the HRV Cup MVP standings and occupies second place on the overall table.
The Auckland Aces are now sitting pretty at the top of the table with one round to play while the Canterbury Wizards well and truly out of the running in last place.
