Aces secure home playoff with win over Stags

Auckland have landed a psychological blow ahead of next week’s Super Smash playoff with a comfortable win over Central Districts at Eden Park Outer Oval on Saturday.

The Aces won by eight wickets with almost three overs to spare, to lock up second spot and secure home-ground advantage for the elimination final on Friday.

The result lifted Auckland to 28 points, level with leaders Northern Districts, who only had to ensure they weren’t utterly destroyed by Otago in their match in Mt Maunganui on Saturday night in order to qualify top.

The Knights did end up losing to the Volts by five wickets at Bay Oval but their superior net run rate of 1.04 to the Aces’ 0.57 ensured they earned hosting rights for the final next Sunday afternoon at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.

It’s the same three teams in the playoffs as last season, with the defending champion Knights qualifying top for the second straight year but with the Aces and Stags this time swapping places in second and third.

That was thanks to blistering innings from Daniel Belldrummond and Mark Chapman, as Auckland chased down the visitors’ 174-9 with ease.

English import Belldrummond smashed seven fours and four sixes in his 74 off 48 deliveries, while former Black ❚ (George Worker 52, Josh Clarkson 42; Ronnie Hira 3-22, Will Somerville 2-30) (Mark Chapman 75no, Daniel Bell-drummond 74; Adam Milne 2-35) by eight wickets.

❚ (Malcolm Nofal 28; Kyle Jamieson 3-22, Cole Mcconchie 3-28) (Chad Bowes 72, Stephen Murdoch 26, Andrew Ellis 23no) by seven wickets.

❚ (Corey Anderson 42, Dean Brownlie 20; Jacob Duffy 2-18, Nathan Smith 2-24, Christi Viljoen 2-25, Michael Rippon 2-37) (Hamish Rutherford 49, Ben Cox 32no, Brad Wilson 25no; Brett Hampton 2-31) by five wickets.

Northern Districts 28, Auckland 28, Central Districts 22, Otago 16, Wellington 14, Canterbury 12.

Auckland v Central Districts, Friday. Winner to play Northern Districts in the final. Caps T20I representative Chapman was unbeaten on 75 from 41, having hit six fours and five sixes.

Earlier, the Stags had opener George Worker lead the way with 52 off 43 and Josh Clarkson ice the innings with 42 off 26.

Black Caps fast bowler Adam Milne returned from a hamstring injury for his first top-level match in three months and took 2-35 off four overs in Auckland’s reply.

Despite finishing top, the Knights will go into the final having recorded successive losses.

They were only able to muster 150-9 after opting to bat first against the Volts.

Central Districts 174-9

Wellington 132-8 lost to Canterbury 137-3

Northern Districts 150-9

lost to Otago Volts 151-5

Points:

Playoffs:

lost to Auckland 176-2