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Aces beat Volts in rain-affected Ford Trophy

Michael Sclanders Auckland Aces cricket
Michael Sclanders' maiden List-A century helped take Auckland to victory. PHOTO: AUCKLAND CRICKET

The Auckland Aces have moved up the Ford Trophy standings with a victory in the only completed match of Round 3.


Michael Sclanders scored his maiden List-A century as Auckland chased down almost 300 to defeat the Otago Volts by four wickets with five balls remaining at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval on Saturday.


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In the only match not to be abandoned by rain, Otago put up 283-9 in their 50 overs, before the Aces won off the first ball of the final over at 285-6.


South Africa-born Sclanders struck nine fours and three sixes in his 112-ball innings of 107, taking Auckland from 71-2 in the 14th over to within reach of victory at 261-5 in the 47th over.


The 24-year-old shared a 179-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Jock McKenzie (66 runs from 81 balls). When he departed, the Aces still required 23 runs from three overs but wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher (17 from 14) was pivotal in getting them across the line.


Travis Muller took 3-63 from 10 overs, while Matthew Bacon's spin netted 2-50 from 9.1 overs for Otago, who suffered their second straight away loss.



Earlier, Dale Phillips, Leo Carter and Luke Georgeson combined to push Otago through to a strong position at the innings break.


Phillips (72 from 92, including nine fours and a six) and Carter (62 from 74, including six fours and a six) put together a 108-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with the Volts at 164-3 in the 31st over.


Georgeson (40 from 34) and Max Chu (28 from 32) continued where they left off but Otago lost regular wickets and momentum, giving Auckland hope.


Danru Ferns finished with figures of 3-66 from nine overs, while Adithya Ashok and Will O'Donnell each took two wickets.



League leaders Canterbury's match against Northern Districts in Christchurch was abandoned without a ball being bowled


That was the same fate for Wellington's clash with Central Districts at the Basin Reserve, although the visitors were 93-2 in the 23rd over when play was stopped.


In Round 4 on Wednesday, Auckland welcome Canterbury to Mount Maunganui, Otago host Central Districts in Dunedin and Wellington travel to Hamilton to face Northern Districts. All three matches start at 10.30am.

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