Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis can't believe it
So who saw that coming? Defending champions the Devon Hotel Central Stags will host the televised 2016 Ford Trophy Grand Final at Pukekura Park next Saturday, 30 January, in New Plymouth after pulling off a stunning recovery to get up and beat previous frontrunners Canterbury by two wickets at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Book your tickets online for the Grand Final at Pukekura Park here.
Canterbury’s loss, their second on the trot after previously having been unbeaten, will see them stay at home to fight out this Wednesday’s sudden death Elimination Final with the SBS Bank Otago Volts at Hagley — the last chance, the winner of which will join the Stags in the Grand Final, which will be broadcast live on SKY Sport.
Wednesday's Elimination Final at Hagley Oval will be free entry.
BLACKCAP Tom Latham’s second Ford Trophy century for Canterbury (126 off 137) had set the Stags a chase of 295 — and the Stags appeared to be out the door at 106 for six in reply. However, first drop Jesse Ryder (a List A career best 136 off 114) found support from Ben Wheeler (also a career best today, with an unbeaten 80 off 77) in a lifesaving, 163-run stand that broke the Ford Trophy record for all teams for the seventh wicket.
Wheeler carried on to hit the winning runs in the last over thriller.
Further south, the resurgent Volts kept themselves alive with a comprehensive Duckworth Lewis Stern win over the Mondiale Auckland Aces by 125 runs in the 3 v 4 clash in Invercargill — posting their second tally of more than 300 in back to back games at Queen’s Park to eliminate the Aces.
The Volts had been well in charge throughout, requiring just two more wickets when rain curtailed the end of the game.
Sweeping aside an impressive Volts record: Neil Broom
Top run-scorer of the season Neil Broom had earlier made his third century of the Ford Trophy summer, breaking the Volts’ all-time record for most List A runs in a single season in the process. He was supported by half centuries from Michael Bracewell and BLACKCAP Jimmy Neesham, while Volts pace bowler and local Southlander Jacob Duffy bowled superbly for 3-16 before rain stopped the game.
Statchat
Tom Latham scored his third List A century. It was his second for Canterbury, the first having been against the Wellington Firebirds in 2011/12.
Ben Wheeler made his highest List A score (previous best 53).
Jesse Ryder and Wheeler broke the New Zealand record for the highest domestic List A seventh wicket partnership. The previous best of 130* was held by Wellington Firebirds Matthew Bell and Stephen Mather, against the Northern Knights at Mt Maunganui in the 1997/98 season.
Jesse Ryder’s career best century was his 8th in List A cricket and his first for his native Central Stags. His previous best was 115.
Neil Broom went into this Final as the leading Ford Trophy runscorer of all teams this season (399). His 109 today extended that tally to 508 — breaking the Volts’ record for most List A runs in a season (previously held by England import and Test player Jonathan Trott, who made 455 runs in 2005/06).
It was Broom’s seventh List A century, his third this season, and his sixth for the Volts.
Get set to see Jesse Ryder at Pukekura Park this Saturday
