Auckland win title in 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.

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.

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.

When he departed two overs later, 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 brought up his 50 with a pull for four, moving the Aces 31 runs away heading into the final 10 overs, but they lost their eighth wicket the following ball, when Nathan Smith went through Ferguson.

Ben Lister was the new man in, but Chapman took charge, hitting three sixes off Foxcroft’s spin in the 44th over to finish the chase in style.

Chapman scored 30 of the final 31 runs required, letting out an emphatic scream as the final six left his blade.