Aces, Volts aim to build on fine start
As quickly as it arrived, the Ford Trophy is set to disappear.
The domestic one-day competition began last Sunday, and after a third round of fixtures tomorrow, it will be put back in the cupboard for seven weeks, while Twenty20 rules the roost.
Before it goes into hiding, the Auckland Aces and Otago Volts will be intent on cementing themselves as the frontrunners.
Both teams can finish this short three-match stint with perfect records, provided they beat the Wellington Firebirds and the Central Stags on Sunday.
Auckland are back at their Eden Park Outer Oval home, where they put Canterbury to the sword on Wednesday.
Colin Munro was the star that day, blazing a new high score of 174 off just 118 balls, and if he picks up where he left off, the winless Firebirds could be in for a long day. They have batted first and posted 263 and 253 in their two matches so far.
In the first one in Whangarei, Northern Districts took until the final over to get there, while in the second one, Otago did it easily, and they will need a bigger score if they are to triumph this time around.
South African Devon Conway has been their standout batsman, making 38 and 74 in his two innings so far.
Central could finish the weekend at the top of the table if they beat Otago while Auckland lose without a bonus point.
The match at Pukekura Park is the game of the round, based on the standings, and Stags batsmen Jesse Ryder and George Worker will be looking to keep up the form they showed in scoring 107 and 96 in their win over Northern during the week.
Canterbury host Northern in the final match of the round, and they will be hoping their star signing, Ben Stokes, can finally fire. He has looked rusty so far, for the most part, but did show glimpses of form in making 34 against Auckland on Wednesday.
Canterbury are down on numbers and are struggling, and Northern should be too strong for them at Hagley Oval.
The Ford Trophy resumes at the end of January, with five more rounds before the top four teams contest the finals.