Nicholls outscores Auckland on his own

Black Caps batsman Henry Nicholls has guided Canterbury to a critical Ford Trophy win with a classy century, scoring more than the Auckland Aces could muster in their run chase.

Canterbury’s 216-run victory – the biggest in Ford Trophy history – cements there spot in the top three for the finals and more importantly, moves the red-and-blacks five points at the top of the table to make them the first side to qualify for the finals.

Nicholls, who notched his sixth List A century and fifth in the Ford Trophy, opened the batting after Auckland won the toss and sent the home side in at Rangiora, a move that skipper Robbie O’Donnell would have quickly regretted. Nicholls struck 10 fours and two sixes in his 113 from 127 balls.

Canterbury finished their 50 overs at 313-4 and in response, Auckland were woeful, all out for 97 after only just surviving the halfway point of their overs, bowled out in the 27th over.

At the Basin Reserve, another allround performance from Anaru Kitchen helped Otago chase down Wellington’s lofty 340 with five balls to spare.

Former Black Cap Mitchell McClenaghan claimed five wickets and Kitchen took two after Jacob Duffy won the toss and put the Firebirds in.

Michael Bracewell top-scored for Wellington with 82 from 87 balls after Black Cap-in-waiting Finn Allen blasted 46 from 21 balls at the top of the innings.

In response, a Hamish Rutherford century (102 from 91 balls) set the foundation before Kitchen guided the Volts home with an unbeaten 72 not out to secure a six-wicket win.

In Hamilton, the Central Stags chased down Northern Districts 194 with relative ease thanks to an unbeaten 89-run partnership between Black Caps veteran Ross Taylor and the big-hitting Josh Clarkson.

With the ball, Clarkson took 3-30 from his 10 overs and only New Zealand test keeper-batsman BJ Watling (68 from 103 balls) and Northern captain Joe Carter (58 from 89 balls) offered any resistance of sorts to the Stags bowling.

George Worker was cleaned up by Scott Kuggeleijn on the first ball of the run chase and even when Tom Bruce was dismissed at 107-4, the game was a long way from settled.

But Clarkson’s 55 from 42 balls changed the momentum of the match and with Taylor at the other end – who finished with 68 from 72 balls – the Stags ended up comfortable winners, though the win was not enough to lift Central off the bottom of the table.

Heading into tomorrow’s final round, the Stags are the only side without a mathematical chance of qualifying for the three-team finals’ series.