Wheeler looks for redemption in one-day domestic final
Ben Wheeler will be out to banish the demons of Eden Park when he returns to the bowling crease for today’s Ford Trophy final against Auckland.
The Central Stags’ left-arm seamer hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in New Zealand’s Twenty20 tri-series match against Australia last Friday. He was hammered for 0-64 from 3.1 overs and narrowly avoided the most expensive figures in T20 international history.
His miserable night was capped off by bowling two no-balls above waist height during his disastrous final over, which forced him out of the attack.
Wheeler will be playing his first match since that outing at another difficult venue for bowlers to defend, New Plymouth’s tiny Pukekura Park ground.
Auckland don’t possess the same level of hitters Australia do, but with the powerful Glenn Phillips, in-form Jeet Raval and returning Mark Chapman in their top order, Wheeler will be desperate to find his line and length nice and early.
Central, who are gunning for their third 50-over title in four seasons, head into the final high on confidence.
Since losing to Auckland in the opening round at Pukekura Park, they’ve won seven straight matches, including victory in the major semifinal against the Aces last Saturday.
The Stags possess a formidable mix of swing and seam in their pace bowling stocks, led by Black Caps Wheeler, Adam Milne, Doug Bracewell and Seth Rance, giving captain Will Young plenty of options.
‘‘In terms of four nasty fasties, it’s a luxury for me to be able to call upon them at will, and Ben Wheeler only adds strength to our attack. Ajaz Patel as our primary spinner has bowled really well at Pukekura Park as well,’’ Young said.
‘‘You’ve got the pace and bounce of Milney [Adam Milne] and Ticks [Blair Tickner] and Seth [Rance] and Dougie [Bracewell], who can hit the strings and move the ball around.’’
Auckland sealed their place in the decider after thumping Canterbury by 107 runs in Wednesday’s elimination final. Test opener Raval starred with the bat, hitting a careerbest List A knock of 149 from 153 balls.
The addition of Chapman, who has been involved in New Zealand’s
T20 tri-series squad, is a significant boost. Chapman has been in brilliant touch, scoring 433 Ford Trophy runs from seven innings, the most in the competition, including two centuries.
Quick Lockie Ferguson, who is in the Black Caps’ ODI squad to face England, has been released to play in the final. He will be a key man with the ball, as will legspinner Tarun Nethula, the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 19 victims.
Captain Craig Cachopa said his side were in a good place following their victory over Canterbury. Auckland were the last team to beat Central in the Ford Trophy in round one in December.
‘‘We can take confidence from that win knowing we have already done a job against the Stags in their own backyard, but this is a final and we know they will be well up for the occasion.’’