Auckland, Mount Maunganui and Invercargill are ready to host a clutch final round robin of Ford Trophy today — Wednesday 20 January — with even the lowest placed side, the Wellington Firebirds, still capable of making the 2016 Finals heading into the last chance saloon.
Unbeaten Canterbury has already locked in a Qualifying Final at Hagley Oval for this Saturday, but the race is on between the Mondiale Auckland Aces and Devon Hotel Central Stags to secure the second spot on the table — the next most sought-after position as it confers a double life in the Finals elimination series that begins on the weekend.
Power hitters George Worker and Jesse Ryder will be on show at Eden Park
The Eden Park Outer Oval contest shapes up as one of the most heated clashes of the competition yet — the young but exciting Aces coming off a strong win in Wellington and the entertaining Stags heaving with big-hitting batting talent, including four current or former BLACKCAPS in George Worker, Jesse Ryder, Ben Wheeler and Doug Bracewell.
At Mount Maunganui, Canterbury won’t be expecting a holiday against the SKYCITY Northern Knights, particularly with BLACKCAP Mitchell Santner coming into the squad for an injured Brett Hampton.
When was the last time any team went through the Ford Trophy unbeaten?
History is already on the line tomorrow at Bay Oval, while the Knights — now fortified with three BLACKCAPS in Santner, BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi — desperately need the win.
The top order class of Tom Latham has meanwhile had added strength to the red and blacks since his return from international duty to Canterbury, and he will again shape as a key man to stop early.
In Invercargill, the resurgent SBS Bank Otago Volts are delighted to have regained the services of BLACKCAPS white ball master Nathan McCullum, who's back after having injured himself in the Georgie Pie Super Smash Final.
The fourth-placed Volts need to win to ensure they make the Qualifying Finals by shutting out the Firebirds and Knights, while the Knights will be looking to lift themselves into clear fourth with a bonus point win against the red and black machine. All games are livescored from 11am at www.blackcaps.co.nz and on the BLACKCAPS mobile app.
