Having overcome the Otago Volts at University Oval on Wednesday, the ACES now face another great Southern challenge: beating Canterbury at home in the grand final of the Ford Trophy.

Canterbury are one of the ACES’ great rivals, and the Auckland boys will no doubt be licking their lips at the prospect of facing them in another Grand Final, having squared off against them in the abandoned Super Smash final on January 28.

For the ACES, this is another opportunity to show how formidable they’ve been in white ball cricket this season and a chance to add another title to the trophy cabinet, having already won the Super Smash.

They lose the services of elimination final centurion Martin Guptill, who heads to Pakistan for the PSL, but fortunately for the ACES Guptill’s replacement George Worker has serious pedigree in the competition, being the highest Ford Trophy runscorer of all time.

One player to watch will be Robert O’Donnell, who has consolidated his place as the competition’s leading runscorer with 561 runs at an average of 62.3.

At one point during his ton on Wednesday he was overtaken by Martin Guptill as Auckland’s highest ever all-format runscorer before re-taking pole position later on his innings of 104.

Danru Ferns, who celebrates his 30^th birthday today, will be another player to keep an eye on as he eyes another top wicket takers spot for a white ball competition.

He currently sits at 15 wickets, three behind top position, having already bagged 18 scalps in the Super Smash.

Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 10:30am and will be screened live on TVNZ+

Out with injury: Adi Ashok, Simon Keene, Matt Gibson, Yahya Zeb.

Out with overseas commitments: Martin Guptill, James Neesham.

Ford Trophy Grand Final
Auckland ACES vs. Canterbury
24^th February, 2024 | 10:30am start
Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Cole Briggs (East Coast Bays)

Louis Delport (East Coast Bays)

Danru Ferns (Takapuna)

Cam Fletcher (East Coast Bays)

Ryan Harrison (East Coast Bays)

Ben Lister (Suburbs New Lynn)

Jock McKenzie (North Shore)

Robbie O’Donnell (Takapuna)

Will O’Donnell (Takapuna)

Angus Olliver (Auckland University)

Nikith Perera (Parnell)

Sean Solia (Suburbs New Lynn) (c)

George Worker (Cornwall)

Article added: Friday 23 February 2024