Central openers sink Otago
A final-over thriller, a dream debut and runs aplenty highlighted the opening day of the Ford Trophy as Auckland, Wellington and Central Districts all made winning starts.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS v OTAGO at Saxton Oval, Nelson
A mammoth opening partnership between Ben Smith and Greg Hay laid the platform for Central Districts’ 37-run victory over Otago.
Smith (93) and Hay (82) set the tone with a 167-run stand in Nelson as Central made 269-7 after being sent into bat.
Otago’s response featured a number of starts. However, other than Josh Finnie’s 63, no one managed to kick on before a lower-order collapse saw them dismissed for 232 in the 45th over.
Central seamer Ryan McCone finished with 3-34 while Bevan Small and Willem Luddick had two wickets each.
Smith and Hay’s effort set a new first-wicket record for Central against Otago, eclipsing the 155 made by Jesse Ryder and Craig Spearman in 2002/03.
Although, it was still well short of the team’s overall opening partnership record of 321, set by Jamie How and Jeet Raval against Northern Districts in 2012/13.
AUCKLAND v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
A sensational unbeaten century from Auckland opener Sean Solia overshadowed Trent Boult’s Ford Trophy return as the defending champions pulled off a dramatic fightback.
Solia carried his bat with an expertly-crafted 133 off 138 balls, holding the Auckland innings together to chase down Northern Districts’ target of 269 with just two wickets and two deliveries to spare.
WELLINGTON v CANTERBURY at Basin Reserve, Wellington
Opener Andrew Fletcher celebrated his List A debut with an unbeaten maiden first class century to lead Wellington to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Set 287 to win after the home team won the toss, Fletcher finished with a superb 132 not out, decimating the Canterbury attack with 15 boundaries and a six.
It was a day of milestones for Wellington as wicketkeeper Lauchie Johns set a New Zealand List A record of seven catches in an innings, just one shy of the world record.