Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis admits to having had a few nerves after having been sent into bat by SBS Bank Otago Volts captain Hamish Rutherford at Hagley Oval in today's Ford Trophy Elimination Final between the two South Island sides, but he was left relieved after rain ensured Canterbury progress to Saturday's Grand Final in New Plymouth.
The Elimination Final had been reduced to 37 overs after a weather-delayed start, and the Volts' opening pace duo of Jacob Duffy and Neil Wagner relished the conditions to quickly make inroads, having their hosts at 19/3 in just the eighth over in the sudden death shootout.
BLACKCAPS spinner Nathan McCullum then chimed in with a wicket first ball, Todd Astle on 25 spooning a catch to Anaru Kitchen to make it 67/4.
Ken McClure was left with an unbeaten 34
But as spits turned to drizzle, and then drizzle to rain, any local nerves evaporated: Canterbury was through to the 2016 Ford Trophy Grand Final by virtue of having qualified higher than the Volts heading into today's match, while the Volts' campaign and five-game unbeaten run came to a bitter end as the abandonment was proclaimed shortly before 5pm.
The Volts' all-star slip cordon
Canterbury's innings had been put on ice at 108/4 after the 26 overs of play.
Scorecard
Canterbury will now travel to New Plymouth to meet the Devon Hotel Central Stags, one of only two teams to have beaten them this season, in the televised 2016 Ford Trophy Grand Final at Pukekura Park, this Saturday 30 January.
The match will be broadcast live on SKY Sport.
Tickets to the 2016 Ford Trophy Grand Final are available online (Adults $10, children $5) at http://www.eventopia.co/event/Ford-Trophy-Grand-Final-Central-Stags-v-TBC/316263
The Devon Hotel Central Stags are the defending champions, and previously won the Ford Trophy title at Pukekura Park in 2012.
