The youngest of the Cachopa trio ticked off another career milestone as he marked his first Ford Trophy match for the Auckland Aces with a maiden century to ensure the Aucklanders notched a first-up win over the Canterbury Wizards.
Chasing 270 at Hagley Oval after losing the toss, the Aces' Cachopa - that's Craig - proved the difference between the two batting sides as he dominated a pivotal 91-run partnership with Colin de Grandhomme to power to his 121 off just 101 balls.
Having previously represented the Firebirds at this level, it was easily Cachopa's highest Ford Trophy score and wrested control of the match away from the home side after he came to the wicket at 57/2 - the Aces needing 203 more runs at that stage to get points on the board.
In a late twist, Matt McEwan bowled the centurion on 115, but the umpires ruled the delivery a no ball because the Wizards had too many men outside the 30-metre circle.
Opener Tim McIntosh had helped build a platform for Cachopa with 72 before he was dismissed hit wicket off Todd Astle. For the Wizards, Peter Fulton (74 off 81) and Rob Nicol (68 off 89) had been the chief contributors, with Andrew Ellis falling to Michael Bates just one run shy of a half-century.
Restricting the Wizards to 269/9, the pace attack of Bates, Kyle Mills and Ford Trophy debutant Matt Quinn took all the wickets between them, Bates finishing on top with 4-45 off his 10, not to mention a hand in three further wickets with three safe catches.
It was a performance the Wizards simply couldn't emulate as the Aces steadily took the game away from them to bag four points and sit in the top half of the early leaderboard.
