Canterbury will have a chance to defend their Ford Trophy title after earning a direct path to the final.

The Northern Districts men's team scored a six wicket win over Wellington in Super Smash at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

A shortened game but still some practice time on the pitch for the Sri Lankan side ahead of their T20 games against the Black Caps.

Canterbury's Henry Shipley will return from injury when he lines up for New Zealand XI in a one-off T20 warm-up against Sri Lanka on Monday.

NZ's six major associations announce their first round of contracted players for the 2024-25 domestic summer.