The Central Stags have been named for the first of two Ford Trophy matches in Nelson — the last two rounds before the upcoming national finals.

BLAIR TICKNER is back again from an ankle niggle for Friday’s Saxton Oval game, against the Otago Volts who haven’t won a match all season.

The Stags have won five from eight, holding second spot on the ladder even after dropping Tuesday’s match in Hamilton by 69 runs.

Nelson allrounder JOSH CLARKSON is the country's top wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an 18.59 average and that sits nicely along his spot in the top eight batters — his strike rate with the bat an impressive 111.57.

Maths is not everyone’s strong suit, but some rudimentary calculations, as well as a splash of meteorology, will help to assess the permutations ahead of the Finals.

Canterbury — whom the Stags play on Tuesday at Saxton — has already qualified, but the top spot and therefore direct entry to the Grand Final could go to either Canterbury, the Stags or Wellington Firebirds ahead of tomorrow’s penultimate ninth round.

Josh Clarkson & Dean Foxcroft shared a century stand in Hamilton

MBUTCHER

The Stags are seven points behind Canterbury, with a lower net run rate which may come into play if, for example, tomorrow’s game were washed out, but Central defeated Canterbury on Tuesday with a bonus point. 

Or Canterbury could beat the Firebirds tomorrow in Christchurch and make themselves uncatchable — even a washout there would do that, if the Stags don’t get a bonus point win tomorrow.

In fourth and fifth spots, Northern Districts and the Auckland Aces are still alive and playing each other, but if the Stags gain just one more point, the Aces are officially gone. 

With warnings of a 'tropical rainmaker' set to sweep across all three venues tomorrow, there’s a possibility of split points.

If there are three washouts, the Stags will qualify for the Elimination Final and Canterbury inks in the top berth in the Grand Final.

ND will be left needing a bonus point win on Tuesday; anything else will see their opponent the Firebirds go through. Given the Stags have now lost twice to ND this season but have beaten the Firebirds both home and away in Wellington, Central may fancy the latter scenario.

The Stags named 13 for their previous round in Hamilton with Ajaz Patel having been under an injury cloud and ultimately sitting out the match.

The squad is now back to 12, as Patel skips Nelson while he gets his niggle attended to but with captain JAYDEN LENNOX, ANGUS SCHAW and a tight DEAN FOXCROFT all having performed well in Hamilton, the spin stocks remain rudely strong.

With the bat, Foxcroft (72 off 56) and Clarkson (66 off 59) are coming off a century stand at Seddon in a tough chase, while BRAD SCHMULIAN remains in the top two run-scorers nationally (412 runs), just behind Canterbury’s Henry Nicholls (428).

The 2v3 Elimination Final is on Friday 21 February and the Grand Final on Sunday 22 February, both at a predetermined venue, Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve.

Both Nelson matches are free admission and scheduled to begin at 10.30am with a 10am toss time. Stay tuned to www.cdcricket.co.nz for latest updates from the ground.

The CENTRAL HINDS squad for the weekend's last two rounds of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield will be named tomorrow, the Hinds heading to Mount Maunganui still with a chance of making the women's national one-day Final on Saturday 21 February at the Basin.

ROUND NINE

Central Stags v Otago Volts

10.30am | Friday, 13 February 2026

Saxton Oval, Nelson

FREE LIVESTREAM

Livescores www.cdcricket.co.nz

JAYDEN Lennox - captain, Hawke's Bay

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

TOBY Findlay - Hawke’s Bay

DEAN Foxcroft - Hawke’s Bay

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

BRETT Randell - Nelson

ANGUS Schaw - Hawke's Bay

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

BLAIR Tickner - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū  

WILL Young - Taranaki

Head Coach: GREG Hay

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith 

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Tyler Annand, Joey Field, Ajaz Patel

Unavailable (casual playing contract): Tom Bruce (Scotland T20 World Cup)

Otago Volts

Luke Georgeson - captain

Matt Bacon 

Hugo Bogue - potential Domestic debut

Jack Boyle 

Max Chu - wicketkeeper

Mason Clarke 

Jacob Cumming 

Zac Cumming 

Troy Johnson 

Ben Lockrose 

Jarrod McKay 

Thomas O’Connor 

 

Article added: Thursday 12 February 2026