BLAIR TICKNER is back from a short injury break to bring the CENTRAL STAGS squad to 13 for The Ford Trophy Elimination Final, in Dunedin tomorrow against the Auckland Aces.

Both teams have named strong squads for the 2v3 knockout (scroll down), with the winner to progress to Sunday's Grand Final against top qualifier and defending champion, Canterbury.

The Stags are heading into Friday's game with no other changes, and with captain JAYDEN LENNOX and legspinning batsman BRAD SCHMULIAN both fresh off their List A one-day career bests with the ball, after winning the 10th round match against the Wellington Firebirds from a tough position.

Jayden Lennox | PHOTOSPORT

The never-say-die attitude delivered the Stags' fifth win of the regular season - and their fourth win since the back half of the competition resumed after the team won this summer's Dream11 Super Smash crown.

After such a recovery from a tough pre-Christmas start to the one-day competition, the Stags have finished the regular season with four batsmen in the national top 10, and four bowlers in the top 10 with the ball.

CURTIS HEAPHY has produced 433 runs to date, the second highest by anyone in the competition and in the frame to overtake Dale Phillips (457) who has already finished his work, along with the rest of the Otago Volts.

BRAD SCHMULIAN is in third spot with 415 runs, TOM BRUCE in fifth with 393 - including his career-best century against tomorrow's same opponent, the Aces; and JACK BOYLE with 355.

After twin five-wicket bags, BRETT RANDELL leads the Stags' wicket-taking with his 16 wickets placing him in the country's three, and captain LENNOX is right behind him with 15.

 

TICKNER and RAY TOOLE round out the NZ top 10 with 13 victims each, while the safe hands of TOM BRUCE have taken more catches than anyone else in the country, 10, and keeper DANE CLEAVER is the leading wicket-taker with 13 dismissals.

Tomorrow's toss is at 10am at University of Otago Oval for a 10.30am start in the 50-over contest, with livescores and a free livestream at www.cdcricket.co.nz

2024/25 | Ford Trophy

2v3 Elimination Final

Auckland Aces v Central Stags

10.30am | Friday 28 February 2025

University of Otago Oval | Dunedin

FREE LIVESTREAM

JAYDEN Lennox - captain, Hawke's Bay

JACK Boyle - Hawke's Bay

TOM Bruce - Taranaki

WILL Clark - Hawke's Bay

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

TOBY Findlay - 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

Head Coach: GLENN Pocknall

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith

Livescores and FREE livestream at

www.cdcricket.co.nz

CENTRAL STAGS INSTAGRAM

Contracted Stags unavailable for selection:

Will Young (BLACKCAPS Champions Trophy)

Ajaz Patel, Joey Field (injury)

Article added: Thursday 27 February 2025