The race is on to qualify for The Ford Trophy Finals Series.
After this Sunday’s Round Six matches in Whangarei, Wellington and Invercargill, there will be just two rounds remaining with only the top four progressing to the playoff phase in the national one-day title hunt.
A maximum of five points is available per match and the front-running Central Stags lead the field by that margin already heading into their away match against the fifth-placed Otago Volts in Invercargill tomorrow.
Invercargill gets a chance to see fast bowler Adam Milne in action. MButcher/CDCA
The Stags have won The Ford Trophy twice in the last three seasons, but Canterbury is out to defend the title — and now face a tough ask through the back end of the competition after having won just one of their five matches in 2017/18.
With a record Canterbury List A partnership for the seventh wicket between captain Andrew Ellis and Kyle Jamieson, and the services of Matt Henry, Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls at their disposal, Canterbury could only haved rued its loss in a big-scoring thriller to the Stags on the penultimate ball of the previous round in Palmerston North — a result that left Canterbury parked in last place on the table and in grave danger of being left behind.
Canterbury needs something to celebrate. PHOTOSPORT
Exciting paceman Mitch McClenaghan has been named in the Auckland Aces squad to play the Firebirds this Sunday while Northern Districts allrounder Daryl Mitchell (290 runs at an average 72.50) and veteran paceman Brent Arnel (13 wickets at an average 19.15) sit top of the respective batting and bowling statistics.
Daryl Mitchell hits top form. PHOTOSPORT
The ND pair is narrowly ahead of the Aces’ duo of Mark Chapman (275 runs at 91.66) and Tarun Nethula whose 12 wickets at 23.58 was boosted when he claimed a List A career best five-wicket bag in the previous round.
Wellington Firebird Malcolm Nofal moves up to third in the top run-makers after his maiden List A century at the Basin on Wednesday with 259 runs at 86.33.
ROUND SIX
11am Sunday 4 February 2018
Northern Districts v Canterbury
Cobham Oval, Whangarei
NORTHERN DISTRICTS (13 named)
Dean Brownlie ©, Brent Arnel, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Joe (Josef) Walker, BJ Watling
CANTERBURY
Andrew Ellis ©, Todd Astle, Chad Bowes, Cameron Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Tom Latham, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ed Nuttall, Michael Pollard
Wellington Firebirds v Auckland Aces
Basin Reserve, Wellington
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Hamish Marshall ©, Michael Bracewell, Fraser Colson, Devon Conway, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal, Alex Ridley, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband
AUCKLAND ACES
Craig Cachopa ©, Michael Barry, Graeme Beghin, Jamie Brown, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Mitch McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula, Glenn Phillips, Jeet Raval, Sean Solia
Otago Volts v Central Stags
Queen’s Park, Invercargill
OTAGO VOLTS
Rob Nicol ©, Hamish Rutherford, Shawn Hicks, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rippon, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Matt Bacon, Jack Hunter, Michael Rae
CENTRAL STAGS
Will Young ©, Ben Smith, George Worker, Jesse Ryder, Dane Cleaver (w), Josh Clarkson, Christian Leopard, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Ryan McCone, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner
