ROUND 10 of 10
CANTERBURY beat AUCKLAND ACES by 1 run
Auckland Aces qualify for Ford Trophy Elimination Final
Canterbury qualifies for Ford Trophy Grand Final
23 February 2025
Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
Points:
Canterbury 4
Auckland Aces 0
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SELECTED MILESTONES
• Cole McConchie : 2,000 List A career runs
• Michael Rippon : 150 List A career wickets
It was a top-of-the-table clash in Rangiora that determined who would go straight through to The Ford Trophy Grand Final and who would take the longer, more fraught route.
The battle went down to the last ball.
A long rain delay at the start of the day and early lunch meant the big game between Canterbury and the Aces in Rangiora was not only reduced to 24 overs per side, but went on well past 7pm - as the two top teams fought tooth and nail for the number one spot that confers direct entry to The Ford Trophy Grand Final.
Aces captain Finn Allen had unsurprisingly elected to bowl, and both sides attacked hard with the bat.
Rhys Mariu belted 63 off just 41 balls at the top for Canterbury, captain Cole McConchie chimed in with 42 off just 22, and finisher Gus McKenzie with an unbeaten 23* off 10, against his brother’s team.
The Aces’ top five all got good starts in reply, Solia with a run-a-ball 39, and Finn Allen smacking 48 off just 32 balls to pour on a 79-run opening stand inside the first 10 overs.
Ish Sodhi prevented Allen from reaching 50, but Jock McKenzie came in and carved 36 off just 20 balls to keep the Aces on track in a fast and furious game.
A pivotal moment came when Cam Fletcher slipped over slightly as he turned for a second run, Canterbury pouncing to picking up a big bonus wicket as dangerous clean hitter Bevon Jacobs was run out at the other end for a quickfire 22.
The new Doctor Death of Domestic cricket, Zak Foulkes ultimately saved the day for Canterbury with a tight final over, restricting Jimmy Neesham to a single off the last ball when the Aucklanders had needed just three to win.
Both teams would be on the plane to Dunedin, but now the Aces had to survive an Elimination Final against the Central Stags if they were to earn a rematch with the defending champions.
