STAGS PRIMED FOR McLEAN PARK SHOWDOWN

Buckle your seats for a rematch of the Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final in which the CENTRAL STAGS are aiming to take down current Ford Trophy leader Canterbury once more.

Canterbury has been in red-hot form in the one-day format, but so have the Stags who have banked six-wicket wins against the Auckland Aces and Northern Districts over the last week to bounce up into the top three.

McLean Park was the scene when the Stags memorably defeated Canterbury in The Ford Trophy Grand Final two years ago, and another win tomorrow will keep the Central hosts on course for a top three finish - which books a ticket to the Finals in early March, with the Elimination Final and the Grand Final to be played in Dunedin.

Canterbury is fresh off a thumping win against Wellington that saw Matt Boyle (younger brother of Central Stags batsman Jack Boyle) and skipper Cole McConchie break the New Zealand one-day fourth wicket record, both men scoring maiden centuries.

The partnership reached 226, with Canterbury now on 26 points to sit three points ahead of the Aces and nine points ahead of the Stags.

Fifteen points remain available in the regular season to each team and, with a tight chasing bunch, a Stags win against the frontrunner would be handy as they begin their home run, with two games in Napier and the final round in New Plymouth in just over a week's time.

While Canterbury was busy ruling the roost at Hagley Oval in the latest round, the Stags were taking a bonus-point win off Northern Districts in Whangārei, with Brett Randell taking his second consecutive five-wicket bag, and opening bat Brad Schmulian top-scoring in the well controlled chase - carrying his bat for an unbeaten 74*.

Brad Schmulian | PHOTOSPORT

Josh Clarkson, a man who loves a Ford Trophy game at McLean Park after his matchwinning century against Canterbury in the 2022 Final, did the finishing by blasting 62 not out off just 38 balls to grab the bonus point.

Curtis Heaphy (374 runs at a 74.80 average) and Schmulian (321 runs at 53.50) head into tomorrow's game as the two top runscorers in The Ford Trophy nationally this summer, closely followed by Tom Bruce (304 at 50.67, after his career best century in Auckland) who slots in at fourth across the country.

Both Boyle brothers are also in the top eight nationally after strong seasons in all formats.

Blair Tickner | PHOTOSPORT

The leading pace bowlers feature Stags attack leader Blair Tickner (13 wickets at 21.54) and Randell (12 at 23.42), both among the top four wicket-takers in the competition this season.

The Stags selectors have yet again named an unchanged squad, Hawke's Bay locals captain Jayden Lennox and Angus Schaw continuing as the frontline off-spinners in the team as BLACKCAP Ajaz Patel continues to rehab and recover from his knee injury.

Gates open at 10am for a 10.30am start tomorrow with free admission at McLean Park for the 50-over contest, and livescores and a free livestream at www.cdcricket.co.nz.

The following match at McLean Park will be against the Otago Volts on Tuesday next week (18 February) before the last regular round at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park on Sunday, 23 February against the Firebirds. All matches are free entry.