Stags fall at final hurdle yet again
FOR a second time in succession, Central Districts have been blown away with the silverware begging, as Auckland cantered to the Ford Trophy one-day title in New Plymouth yesterday.
After a nine-wicket loss to the Northern Knights in the Super Smash Twenty20 decider in Hamilton last month, the Stags were this time belted just as convincingly.
The top qualifiers were crushed by six wickets by the Aces at Pukekura Park, after being bowled out for 197 then seeing Auckland canter to victory in just 32.4 overs.
The prospects had looked bright for the Stags – who beat Auckland at the same venue in the semifinal a week ago – after captain Will Young had won the toss and opted to bat. But that’s about where their good times ended.
Released Black Caps speedster Lockie Ferguson piled on the misery, claiming 3-28 off 9.4 overs, while fellow international Mark Chapman (3-41 off eight) and Tarun Nethula (2-24 off 10) proved a deadly spin duo.
The Stags were dealt a blow in just the third over when Dane Cleaver was forced to retire hurt, suffering a back injury when looking to turn for a second run. In the very next over Ferguson had George Worker (13) nicking behind to Ben Horne, then soon after Jesse Ryder (5) skied an awful swipe to Jamie Brown off Ben Lister.
Captain Will Young and Tom Bruce set about resurrecting the innings, and put on a 101-run stand, but both ended up falling on 49, with Young’s 82-ball knock finished when skying a pull off Nethula to Glenn Phillips at short mid-wicket, then Bruce’s quick 48-ball effort undone in the next over when he upper cut Ferguson to Nethula at third man.
It was the start of an awful rot, as the Stags lost a disastrous 5-7, with Ben Wheeler (1), then Adam Milne (1) both nicking the slow men. The latter’s dismissal saw Cleaver (6) return to the crease, but four balls later he was traipsing back to the pavilion.
At 135-7 it was always going to be a rough road to the end, and while the hosts dragged out the inevitable for a while thanks to Doug Bracewell’s 40, Ferguson had him caught at mid on when trying to clear the fence, to end the innings with 20 balls in the bank.
The run chase seemed like a foregone conclusion, and Auckland began in style, as Jeet Raval – the test opener coming off 149 in the elimination final against Canterbury – and Phillips put on 84 in 15 overs, with the Central bowlers not looking likely.
Blair Tickner (2-41 off 6.4) provided a brief glimpse of hope, having Raval (47 off 54) send a leading edge to Bracewell at mid-on, then quickly crashing through the defences of Sean Solia (2) with a superb yorker.
But Phillips (63 off 75) – who, while looking like struggling for his usual touch, still managed nine fours and two sixes – carried on towards the small target, with Chapman joining him and making quick headway with five fours and three sixes in a swift 47 off 36.
Those two both fell with the target in sight but captain Craig Cachopa (10no) and Robbie O’Donnell (22no) were able to easily see it through.