The Ford Trophy preliminary finalists were in doubt until the last in a tense final round of matches around the country today.
Ford Trophy final points table
The Devon Hotel Central Stags finish top of the table and take on the second place Mondiale Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth in the 1v2 playoff on Saturday.
In the 3v4 playoff, the SBS Bank Otago Volts host the SKYCITY Northern Knights at Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown on Saturday, with both matches starting at 11am.
The winner of Stags v Aces qualifies directly for the final to be played at their home venue on Sunday 1 February. The loser of the 1v2 playoff will meet the winner of the 3v4 playoff on Wednesday 28 January to determine who joins them.
The Ford Trophy has been hotly contested, with nailbiting last-over and even last-ball thrillers. While the Wellington Firebirds will be very disappointed not to be in a position to defend their Ford Trophy title, the regular season results — and almost total reversal of fortunes from the preceding Georgie Pie Super Smash — signals that New Zealand domestic cricket has strengths and promise across the board.
The remarkable volume of runs scored this season has also made for some thoroughly entertaining cricket. New 50-over ground records have been set across the country at Pukekura Park, Eden Park Outer Oval, Molyneux Park and Harry Barker Reserve, and we were just five runs away from a new record for Timaru’s Aorangi Oval.
Devon Hotel Central Stag George Worker amassing over 500 runs, and Canterbury’s young Henry Nicholls scored 494 runs in just eight rounds. Jamie How (177), George Worker (194) and Nicholls (a Canterbury record 178) produced some of the highest individual innings in their team’s history. It’s been a very exciting style of cricket to get along and watch.
In today’s last round, the Knights qualified for the playoffs thanks to a tense two wicket win over the Aces in Mount Maunganui. After dismissing the Aucklanders for 160 in 43.5 overs and being 38-2 in the ten second innings overs played before lunch, the Knights plunged from 4-94 to 8-150. Needing the win to keep their season alive, Scott Kuggeleijn made a fearless 25 from 26 balls to keep his side’s season alive.
The Volts and Canterbury were forced from the field after just 23 overs of the first innings with the latter on 109-1. Rain, then ground delays meant no further play was possible and with both sides taking two points, the Volts finished the season in third place, while Canterbury’s outside chance of the fourth playoff spot was extinguished.
The defending champion Firebirds beat the Stags by 22 runs at the Basin Reserve today, but it wasn’t enough to dislodge the Stags from top spot, or lift the hosts off the foot of the table. The Firebirds made 244-7 in their 50 overs built on Stephen Murdoch’s 64, then bowled the Stags out for 222 with Matt McEwan taking 4-41.
