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Canterbury has won the 2023/24 Ford Trophy with a last-over finish at home against the Auckland Aces.
The Aces had a classy start to the innings with George Worker and Cole Briggs seeing through the powerplay for Auckland.
Angus McKenize made the breakthrough in the over following the powerplay with Briggs falling LBW for 26.
Worker and Aces captain Sean Solia kept the momentum going for the visitors as they worked their way close to the hundred-run mark.
The hosts however were still putting pressure on the Aces batters with the scoring rate being kept at bay.
Worker eventually fell to Canterbury captain Cole McConchie for 37 from 67. Solia was out to Henry Shipley, on his return to the side following injury for 41.
The O’Donnell brothers (Will and Robbie) couldn’t find much luck together at the crease, as they only spent three overs in the middle together before Will went to Zak Foulkes via a sharp catch by Tom Latham for five.
Cam Fletcher came to the middle and showed some aggression as he tonked 41 from 36 before being caught in the deep by Will O’Rourke off Foulkes’ bowling.
Louis Delport smacked a quick 23* from 14 at the end whilst Robbie O’Donnell made 74* from 80 as the Aces posted 264/5 from 50 overs.
Canterbury was in trouble early with Angus Olliver grabbing Chad Bowes in the first over for four and Ben Lister getting Henry Nicholls to chop on for six.
Tom Latham and Leo Carter showed their experience at number three and four as they put on a third wicket stand of 71 runs.
Smart bowling decisions and pressure built by Solia and Delport with the ball allowed Solia to get Carter to make a mistake as he chipped the ball straight to Delport for 33.
With Latham and McConchie playing well in the middle, Auckland were looking to try and break the stand between them. However, the weather had other ideas with a rain delay occurring for well over an hour.
When the players got back on Canterbury needed 65 runs from a further 52 balls with the DLS method in place.
The jitters got to them at one stage as Latham fell to Lister for 64 before Mitch Hay went in the next over to Danru Ferns for five via a sharp catch by George Worker.
Michael Rippon and McConchie did manage to get their side to victory in the final over to take a five-wicket win. Rippon finished on 17* and McConchie on 59*.
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