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A memorable maiden one-day century from Brad Cachopa and late innings fireworks from Colin de Grandhomme guided the Auckland Aces to victory in a high scoring Ford Trophy thriller against the Otago Volts today.
Cachopa made 114 and de Grandhomme 43 off 18 balls as the Aces ran down the Volts’ challenging 302 for six with two wickets and one ball in hand at University Oval in Dunedin.
The result thrust the Aces alone atop the standings on 15 points after they entered the fourth round sharing the lead with the Volts.
After being dropped on six at third man in the third over, Cachopa was hugely impressive and reached three figures off 111 balls before departing in the 44th over when he was caught at long on for 114 off 130, featuring seven fours and one six.
The momentum swung in the Volts’ favour later in the same Ian Butler over when wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins was trapped leg before wicket after slamming two sixes in a 20-ball 31 as the Aces fell to 244 for six.
But Colin de Grandhomme had other ideas, belting two fours and four sixes to almost get his team over the line before holing out in the penultimate over.
Ronnie Hira then prompted swatted a six as the Aces entered the last over needing four to win, which they did with four singles.
Earlier, Craig Cumming marked his 100th one-day appearance for the Volts - just the second player after Chris Gaffaney to reach that milestone - by compiling his 17th half-century for the province as they recovered splendidly from the early loss of Aaron Redmond and Neil Broom to be 29 for two after 10 overs.
Gaffaney also became the first player to register 3000 one-day runs for the Volts as the middle order put the Aces bowlers to the sword.
His share was a powerful 78 off 84 balls containing six fours and further damage was inflicted by Sam Well, who reached his maiden one-day 50 before falling on that number after hitting five boundaries off 52 balls.
There was no respite for the visitors from Nathan McCullum and Jimmy Neesham as the former needed just 52 deliveries to belt a quickfire 64 featuring three fours and one six and the latter rattled on an unbeaten 44 off only 29 balls with five fours and a solitary six.
None of the Aces bowlers were spared, with spinner Bhupinder Singh their best with two for 48 off seven overs.
