Cricket: Auckland smashes way into one-day final

Auckland Aces batsman Anaru Kitchen in action during his century against the Otago Volts, during the 1-Day Ford Trophy Preliminary Final cricket match, held at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland today. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Anaru Kitchen smashed the fifth fastest century in New Zealand history as Auckland stormed into the domestic one-day cricket final with a comfortable victory over Otago today.

The 73-run win was built around a 222-run partnership between Kitchen and Neal Parlane scored in just 162 balls.

It was just the second partnership for Auckland in excess of 200 and led them to a mammoth 337-3 off their 50 overs.

Parlane's 94-ball 117 included seven fours and four sixes and Kitchen ended unbeaten on 110 after 81 balls - lifting his average from 25 to 29.6 in the course of his innings.

The speed of his century has been bettered only by Brendon McCullum (52 balls), Stephen Fleming (54), Aravinda de Silva (65) and Llorne Howell (72).

He completed a stunning day by taking 3-52 off 10 overs of left-arm orthodox.

Otago got off to a decent start at Auckland's Colin Maiden Park home with a 62-run partnership between Neil Broom and Hamish Rutherford for the first wicket.

But they never came close to eclipsing their host's total, being bowled out for 264.

Auckland will face Central Districts at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park in the final on Sunday.