The Ford Trophy by numbers — round two
TWO
Number of unbeaten teams. Auckland Aces, Otago Volts, take a quick bow. Make it really quick though, you’ve only got until this Sunday before that status goes back on the line.
The fun continues at Eden Park this Sunday. PHOTOSPORT
The Aces stay top of the table courtesy of net run rate, but they’ll have one big blue eye on the Central Stags who picked up a round two bonus point. If it comes down a final analysis, bonus points > net run rate. Everyone wants bonus points, they're like the black jellybeans of cricket, if you're the kind of person who likes black jellybeans.
Will Young is probably the kind of person who likes black jellybeans. MButcher/NZC
583
Number of runs scored at big Cobham Oval yesterday. Worth 600 on any other ground surely. The deck was a belter, and all on a sweltering hot day with sweat running down the helmets and gloves from ball one which is probably the most moisture the ground has seen for a few days.
She's a big ground... PHOTOSPORT
334
The new ground record for a domestic List A total at said big ground. 334/8 was also the Stags’ 12th highest Ford Trophy total in history, again all the more impressive for having done it on one of the biggest grounds going on the local scene.
The only bigger List A total that’s ever been scored on the Whangarei masterpiece was the 372/6 smashed by the BLACKCAPS against Zimbabwe in the first ever ODI to be played there back in 2011/12. Next best Ford Trophy totals at Cobham? 299/7 (ND in 2008), 298/6 (Volts in 2016) and 296/7 (ND in the same 2016 match which they lost by three runs).
Something in the air. MButcher/NZC
20
Number of sixes smashed at Cobham Oval. One-day cricket at its most entertaining. It was like five games of Burger King Super Smash back to back. And one of those sixes was how Jesse "Easy" Ryder brought up his 11th List A century. Boom.
NINE
Number of planets in the solar system now because although debate still rages about whether there are actually eight or nine planets altogether, they’re still looking for one of the balls Colin Munro blasted out of Eden Park Outer Oval.
Bombs away! PHOTOSPORT
Flat tracks were the order of the day in the early summer heatwave and the result was a brutal unbeaten 174 in 118 balls, 22 fours, six sixes from the blaster who is the new proud owner of the highest Ford Trophy score by any Auckland Aces batsman ever. It was probably only ever a matter of time before those stars aligned. Previous best for the Aucks was Tim McIntosh’s 161 in 2011, while Munro PB’ed the 151 that he had scored at the same park a few years back. Those dudes in the Mobil service station across Sandringham Road should really wear helmets, surprised health and safety hasn't been on about it already when he's batting.
Colin Munro, take a bow. Or a dab. PHOTOSPORT
213
Number of runs Mr Munro has smashed from the opening two rounds to put him top of the early season batting charts. The Aces are on top of the bowling stats too with the ol' faithful Tarun Nethula in the lead with seven wickets.
Nethula pops Ben Stokes into his career bag. PHOTOSPORT
308
Number of List A matches Hamish Marshall has now played. The 38-year-old pocket maestro needs just one more half century to reach 50 fifties and almost got there with his 45 at the top for the Wellington Firebirds.
Now that twin bro James is busy selling real estate, we're 100 per cent sure this is Hamish. PHOTOSPORT
205
The new Central Stags second wicket record after Jesse Ryder and George Worker went to boomtown up north. The old mark against allcomers was 184 which had something to do with Worker, too. Talk about a dream team with these two batting together in the middle — entertainment at its best.
A youchy photo from NDCA
ONE
…more boundary and Worker would have had his 12th Ford Trophy century. Bat 40 overs, out on 96. Cricket, eh.
Knows how to score a run does George Worker. MButcher/NZC
ONE
Also the number of rounds remaining before The Ford Trophy takes a holiday break and players switch to super-charged T20 mode. Burger King Super Smash starts Wednesday next week so this Sunday’s Ford Trophy showdowns at Pukekura Park (Stags v Volts), Eden Park Outer Oval (Aces v Firebirds) and Hagley Oval (Canterbury v ND) is the last chance to get your 50-over park-up-at-the-park-all-day fix until 2018. 
