Be sure to tune into Spark Sport this Saturday when our CENTRAL STAGS will be playing for the 2022 FORD TROPHY title in Queenstown, against either the Auckland Aces or Wellington Firebirds.

The Stags are heading in as the top qualifier and will find out who joins them either today (Tuesday) when the Aces play the Volts, or on Thursday when the Stags play the Aces in Auckland in the final round of the regular season before Saturday's Queenstown Final, which will be broadcast live and on demand at Spark.

The Aces need just three points to confirm their spot in the Final so a win (or two washouts) will see them bump out the Firebirds whose own chances of heading to Queenstown took a serious hit when the Stags beat them back-to-back at Pukekura Park on Friday and Sunday this weekend.

Both matches at Pukekura Park were late-starting, reduced over affairs with the Firebirds winning the toss on both occasions. But that didn't stop the Stags from continuing their unbeaten run in the campaign, and they took a bonus point from the scrappy two-wicket win on Sunday - their fourth bonus-point win from five games, with their other four games having been washed out.

THE STAGS ARE THIS SEASON"S TOP QUALIFIER | MBUTCHER

 

For the team, it was worth the wait after heavy early morning rain delayed both big games. It allowed the side to regain some momentum after a string of washouts in Dunedin and Rangiora over the previous fortnight.

This Thursday's game in Auckland may even prove to be a dress rehearsal for the Grand Final that the Stags last contested in 2018, also against the Aces who lifted that year's title.

ROSS TAYLOR once again top-scored for the Stags on Sunday, backing up his record fastest Ford Trophy century on Friday with a 31-ball 50 on Sunday as the Stags chased down a target of 192 off 32 overs.

ROSS TAYLOR HIT 161 RUNS IN THE TWO GAMES | MBUTCHER

An aggressive bowling performance after having been asked to field first set up the result for the Stags.

ADAM MILNE (3-35) made a quick impact and took a key early wicket in another player who will he heading to this year's IPL, Finn Allen, at 20/1.

ADAM MILNE WAS ON FIRE AGAIN | MBUTCHER

Firebirds first drop Jakob Bhula tinkered away effectively to steady the ship, and had just reached 50 at almost run-a-ball pace before departing at 118/3 as BRAD SCHMULIAN broke through, captain TOM BRUCE collecting the catch in his 50th one-day match for the Stags.

That was where hopes began to decay for the visitors.

Milne struck again in the following over as Schmulian caught a screamer to dismiss Troy Johnson, then spinner JAYDEN LENNOX celebrated the huge wicket of Michael Bracewell at 138/5.

Firebirds all-rounders Nathan Smith and Logan van Beek meant that the Firebirds weren't out of it yet, but Milne rattled Smith's pickets for his third at 138/6, and van Beek was caught trying to hit out at the death - leaving the tail to try to scramble late runs for a defendable total.

SETH RANCE picked up his 100th List A victim by trapping Ollie Newton as the Stags held their guests to a 191/8: a run-a-ball chase in store.

100 IN ALL FORMATS FOR SETH RANCE | MBUTCHER

Newton quickly got himself back in the game with the ball, taking out both Stags openers at 35/2 to ensure the Stags did not get to emulate their strong launchpad from Friday.

But Taylor once again made sure Central stayed in control of a DRS chase and shared a 79-run stand with first drop Schmulian to take the team to 124/4.

KEY SUPPORT FROM SCHMULIAN | MBUTCHER

Although the Firebirds fought back with the ball, Central had too much depth to be in serious danger of running out of opportunities to get across the line.

TOM BRUCE BROUGH IT HOME | MBUTCHER

Fittingly the honours went to Bruce, the winning boundary in the 25th over not only confirming a bonus point, but the ticket to Queenstown, with a nervous wait now in store for the Firebirds.

The Stags' squad to play Auckland will be named on Wednesday, with the match in Auckland closed to the public under Red, but available to watch for free on our livestream - just visit our livescoring link here on the day.

Article added: Tuesday 22 February 2022