Fourth round highlights:

• Maiden List A bags for Simon Keene (Auckland Aces), Peter Younghusband (Wellington Firebirds)

• Maiden List A century for Curtis Heaphy (Central Stags)

A good Keene manSharp allrounder Simon Keene gets a sizzling maiden Ford Trophy bag in a dramatic, top-of-the-table clash against former unbeaten leaders Canterbury – who narrowly avoid their lowest total as competition lead changes handswww.nzc.nz

Defending champion Canterbury has suffered its first lost and surrendered The Ford Trophy national lead after a heavy, seven-wicket loss to the Auckland Aces at Mount Maunganui.

The match was not only a top-of-the-table clash, but pitted last year’s Grand Finalists against each other, with the Auckland Aces extracting revenge thanks to a career-best performance from up-and-coming allrounder Simon Keene (5/29), with sharp support from Lockie Ferguson (3/33).

The Aces weren’t the only ones making big moves on the ladder today, the Central Stags gaining their first victory of the season at the expense of the Otago Volts in Dunedin, and (like the Aces) claiming a bonus point for the scale of the 108-run victory.

The much-needed win was set up by 21-year-old Curtis Heaphy’s maiden one-day century (142 off 145 balls), and propelled the Stags from last to fourth on the table.

In Hamilton, it was meanwhile a day for veterans in the closest contest of the round, long-serving legspinner Peter Younghusband (5/42) claiming the winning wicket to seal his maiden one-day five-for in a 49-run victory over Northern Districts at Seddon Park.

The fifth round begins at 10.30am this Sunday in Dunedin, Rangiora and Hamilton and will be the last day of one-day domestic men’s white-ball this calendar year before the teams switch to the first-class Plunket Shield. The Ford Trophy will resume with the last five rounds, followed by national finals, in February (Waitangi Day).

THE FORD TROPHY

ROUND FOUR

30 October 2024

Northern Districts 199 lost to Wellington Firebirds 248 by 49 runs

Seddon Park, Hamilton

SCORES

Otago Volts 222 lost to Central Stags 330/7 by 108 runs

University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

SCORES

Auckland Aces 108/3 (home fixture) defeated Canterbury 109 by 7 wickets [DLS]

Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui

SCORES

POINTS TABLE – snapshot

13 Auckland Aces (up one place)

12 Canterbury (down one place)

11 Wellington Firebirds (-)

7 Central Stags (up two places)

6 Northern Districts (down on place)

5 Otago Volts (down one place)

Recent Champions

2023/24  Canterbury

2022/23  Central Stags
2021/22  Auckland Aces