Twin tons hand Stags 50-over win

The Central Stags remain top of the table after the fourth round of the Ford Trophy on Saturday.

They beat the Auckland Aces, while the Northern Knights got up over the Wellington Firebirds to move into second.

Canterbury beat the Otago Volts in the third match of the day.

Auckland Aces v Central Stags; Colin Maiden Park, Auckland

Twin centuries from Josh Clarkson and Will Young powered the Stags to an 123-run win over the Aces at Colin Maiden Park.

Clarkson made 103 off 95 balls, with six fours and four sixes, while Young made 100 off 101 balls, with six fours.

They shared in a 211-run stand for the fifth wicket, spending nearly 32 overs at the crease together.

Sean Solia took four for 46 with his seamers, but the Stags posted 299-7 at the end of their 50 overs.

The wickets were shared around as the Stags then dismissed the Aces for 176.

Adam Milne took two for 20, Blair Tickner two for 23 and Ajaz Patel two for 45.

Glenn Phillips top scored for the Aces with 43, after being dropped from the Black Caps for Sunday’s Twenty20 decider against Pakistan.

Central Stags 299-7 (Josh Clarkson 103, Will Young 100; Sean Solia 4-46) beat the Auckland Aces 176 all out by 123 runs.

Wellington Firebirds v Northern Knights; Basin Reserve, Wellington

Knights batsman Daryl Mitchell blazed an unbeaten century to power his side to a four-wicket win over the Firebirds, chasing 321.

Mitchell finished on 126 off 101 balls as they got there with 2.3 overs remaining at the Basin Reserve.

He smashed 10 fours and five sixes, and received good support from Dean Brownlie, who was dismissed for 97 with the game still in the balance.

The Knights needed 125 from just over 14 overs at that stage – a required run rate of more than eight an over – but Mitchell and Scott Kuggeleijn, who blasted 44 off 27 balls, got them home.

Devon Conway was the rock for the Firebirds, making 93, while Michael Bracewell (54) and Logan van Beek (54 off 25) also made crucial contributions as they posted 320-9 from their 50 overs.

Young seamer Brett Randell took 4-44 for the Knights.

Wellington Firebirds 320-9 (Devon Conway 93, Michael Bracewell 54, Logan van Beek 54; Brett Randell 4-44) lost to the Northern Knights 324-6 off 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 126no, Dean Brownlie 97) by four wickets

Otago Volts 254-9 (Neil Broom 81, Jimmy Neesham 69; Ed Nuttal 4-58) lost to Canterbury 257-2 off 45.2 overs (Chad Bowes 112no) by eight wickets.