"We must take our risk and shot options ideally at the right times during the innings."
As bowlers, the Stags needed to start and finish their overs clinically and with military discipline if they were to survive in the hit-and-giggle version to give themselves any hopes of qualifying for the lucrative Champions League.
Setting fields perceptively and backing that constitution were equally significant in stifling the opposition.
"In the field, there's always room to run out batsmen, so we have to take our half chances in any situation of game," the New Zealand A representative explained.
Last night, Colin de Grandhomme scored an unbeaten 44 runs with Chris Nash adding 41. Black Caps test seamer Doug Bracewell took 3-46 but spinners Marty Kain (0-37), Tarun Nethula (2-32) and veteran Jacob Oram (0-37) stifled batsmen.
In reply, CD got to 161 with skipper Kieran Noema-Barnett's 40 backing Cachopa. Lachie Ferguson claimed 2-21 for the Aces.
The Stags' county imports, Peter Trego of Somerset and Joshua Cobb of Leicestershire, left Napier on Saturday for home in England after failing to fire in the T20 competition.
The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags ended their T20 campaign last night with seven losses from 10 outings, with the others washed out.
They finished last on the table, emulating their feat from last summer.
CD's home-grown talent also failed to fire with any degree of consistency with their top-order batsmen.
Opening batsman Jamie How was last night absent from the line-up as young Dane Cleaver made his debut with 10 runs from 10 balls.
"Howser [How] was unable to play because of personal, family reasons so Dane came in for him after performing very well in the A tournament," Cachopa said.
"It's the nature of professional sport. You can only play the 11 on the day and that's what we chose today."
Unlike the Aces, CD weren't able to provide a decent platform for their big hitters to launch off for a hefty total.
The hosts had racked up 56 runs from the opening five-over spell before de Grandhomme went after Bevan Small and cricketer-for-hire Oram at the death for back-to-back lusty sixes to finish with an unbeaten 44 from 24 balls.
"Colin batted exceptionally well," Cachopa said, his knock coming at a stage when they couldn't haul him in.
He felt CD needed some big hitting but couldn't find anyone to deliver.
Noema-Barnett, Bracewell and himself had the ability to pinch hit but found no traction.
"You've got to give Auckland some credit because they bowled quite well."
The Aces had also used their powerplay overs with aplomb.
While Auckland employed seven bowlers, CD used only five but Cachopa said Malan and Noema-Barnett had to consider their batting/bowling balance.
"It's nice to have many bowlers and have that luxury but the balance of the team has to be right as well."
The Stags, he said, were hurting but would have to put that behind as they prepare to host ND in Napier on Thursday next week in a shield match.
