Aces edge Volts in trophy thriller

The 2019-20 Ford Trophy final was a thriller that revolved around three left-handed batsmen.

For the champion Auckland Aces, it was Colin Munro – who blasted a 60-ball 104 – and Mark Chapman – who made an unbeaten 78-ball 84 – as they won by two wickets with six overs to spare.

For the Otago Volts, it was Hamish Rutherford – whose innings came to an abrupt end at 36 off 25 balls when he was struck on the helmet by a lifting delivery from Lockie Ferguson.

At a glance

Ford Trophy final Otago Volts 283 all out

(Anaru Kitchen 60, Dean Foxcroft 42; Glenn Phillips 3-40)

lost to the Auckland Aces 285-8

(Colin Munro 104, Mark Chapman 84no, Ben Horne 42; Jacob Duffy 4-58)

by two wickets.

The opener failed a concussion test after leaving the field and was replaced by seamer Matt Bacon, which meant 12 different players batted for the Volts, who were dismissed for 283 in the 50th over.

He wasn’t the only Volt forced to retire hurt, with Dean Foxcroft also going off for a concussion test after taking a blow to the head from Glenn Phillips when they collided in the field.

Foxcroft was prone on the ground for several minutes after the incident, but was able to get up and walk off, later returning to make 42 off 51.

Had Rutherford been able to continue after his hot start, the Volts might have been headed for a total well in excess of 300, after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

As it happened, 283 almost proved to be enough – No 8 Anaru Kitchen’s 54-ball 60 was the highest score, and Neil Broom (39) and Jacob Duffy (24) also making useful contributions.

When Munro brought up his hundred in the 19th over, he had scored 103 of the Aces’ 141 runs, with fellow opener Martin Guptill out for a two-ball duck, Jeet Raval gone for 7 off 12 and Glenn Phillips departing after making

20 off 31, following up a haul of

3-40 with the ball.

When he departed two overs later, chopping a deliver from Duffy onto his stumps, the Aces were 149-4, well ahead of the asking rate, but quickly running out of recognised batsmen, as the burden shifted to Chapman.

Chapman scored 30 of the final

31 runs required, letting out an emphatic scream as the final six left his blade, sealing the Aces’ second win in three years and the Volts’ second defeat in a row.