We're into the eighth round of 10 in this season's Ford Trophy national championship and our Central Stags are still right in the mixer for the Finals on a very tight table.

Tomorrow's FREE ENTRY one-dayer at McLean Park is a tantalising contest.

It brings the Stags back to the place they won this trophy last year - with plenty of good memories from their Napier home turf.

This time around, they'll be up against the strong Auckland Aces who were leading the comp until last week.

Look who's back! MBUTCHER

But things can change quickly in this six-team competition.

With the Aces now in third spot, just three points ahead of the Stags on the table (with a maximum of five points available for a bonus point win or four for a regular win), it's a prime opportunity for the Stags to bounce back into the top three.

After a tough loss in Dunedin earlier this week, and a washout in Wellington before that on the road, the Stags are pleased to be home, albeit suddenly sitting in a three-way tie at the bottom of the ladder.

Dropping from third, the Volts and Firebirds meanwhile both scoring upsets to win their seventh-round matches.

It shapes as a big weekend for cricket aficionados all round, with Hawke's Bay also hosting visitors from the north across the road at Nelson Park - where Hawke Cup holder Hawke's Bay will be looking to stave off the Zone 1 Challenge from Counties Manukau.

Contracted Stags paceman LIAM DUDDING (above, centre front) starred in Hawke's Bay's defence of the Hawke Cup against Manawatū two weeks ago with a phenomenal 11 wickets in the red-ball game, taking a bag in each innings.

That made it four bags on the trot for the lean right-armer for his District Association after similar six-wicket feats in the Furlong Cup, and he now steps back into the Stags' white-ball squad, coming in for allrounder BEVAN SMALL.

Hawke's Bay's Hawke Cup match at Nelson Park begins today (Friday) while gates open for the Central Stags v Auckland Aces match at McLean Park at 10am on Saturday, with a free livestream and livescoring here at www.cdcricket.co.nz from 10.30am.

Central Districts A Women will also be in action this weekend (10 and 11 February 2024) against Northern Districts A at St Paul's Collegiate, in Hamilton.

ROUND 8 of 10 v Auckland Aces

McLean Park, Napier

FREE ADMISSION

10.30am this Saturday, 10 February 2024

Livescoring and free livestream: www.cdcricket.co.nz

DANE Cleaver — captain, wicketkeeper, Manawatū

JACK Boyle — Hawke’s Bay

WILL Clark — Hawke’s Bay

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

LIAM Dudding — Hawke’s Bay

CURTIS Heaphy — Manawatū

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

RAY Toole — Manawatū

BAYLEY Wiggins — Hawke’s Bay

Coach: GLENN Pocknall

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith

Contracted players unavailable for selection

DOUG Bracewell — unavailable

TOM Bruce — unavailable

JOEY Field — injury

BRETT Randell — returning from injury

WILL Young — BLACKCAPS Test squad

AUCKLAND ACES
 

Robbie O’Donnell (c)

Cole Briggs

Mark Chapman

Louis Delport

Cam Fletcher (w)

Ryan Harrison

Ben Lister

Jock McKenzie

Will O’Donnell

Angus Olliver

Nikith Perera

George Worker

HURRY! NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON TUESDAY

Article added: Friday 9 February 2024