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 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.