ROUND EIGHT
SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY in NEW PLYMOUTH & DUNEDIN
Auckland Aces line up top honours
All six teams remain in contention to make The Ford Trophy playoffs, but an Auckland Aces win in today's eighth-round clash against the Central Stags at Pukekura Park will put the Aucklanders in prime position to qualify top for a home Final.
With a game in hand, the competition leaders can open up a nine-point lead over former leaders Canterbury (20 points from eight rounds) after the red and blacks' loss to the Wellington Firebirds yesterday at the Basin Reserve.
The Aces will be feeling confident after a strong recent record in both formats of white-ball cricket at Pukekura Park over the past two seasons, however, they'll be wary of the unpredictable Stags who have welcomed back Doug Bracewell for today's key clash.
It's Bracewell's first match back since keyhole surgery on his knee just before the 2019/20 summer kicked off, the erstwhile BLACKCAPS allrounder's joining an injury-ravaged squad that nevertheless put an imperious 345 for two on the board in their win against the Volts on Wednesday.
Despite sitting last on the table (25 points from seven rounds), the Stags can still reach the playoffs if they reverse their recent trend against the Aces, and continue the late run for the cut-off line.
The Otago Volts meanwhile host Northern Districts at Dunedin's University of Oval and will be hoping that a return to their home ground will bring with it a return to their winning ways, after a solid sixth-round victory over the Stags at the same ground a week ago.
Gates open at 10am with the matches beginning at 11AM.
ROUND EIGHT | RESULT
Saturday 1 February 2020
Wellington Firebirds defeated Canterbury by 22 runs
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Video Scorecard
TOM BLUNDELL | PHOTOSPORT
A career-best 97 from BLACKCAP Tom Blundell; 70 from star allrounder Jimmy Neesham and hald century for run machine Devon Conway were the home highlights as the Firebirds posted 275 for seven after winning the toss. A Henry Nicholls half century at top in reply proved the top score for Canterbury who were bowled out with two balls remaining, hampered by a scarcity of partnerships. Despite the loss, Canterbury remains in second spot on the table but the Firebirds closed the gap in third to just four points, with two games remaining for each side in the quest to make the playoffs.
