Cricket: Auckland hopes it's odds-on for Ford Trophy

Colin de Grandhomme of Auckland Aces. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland are aiming to continue their dominance of the odd years to claim the Ford Trophy.

The Aces will take on Central Districts in the final at Colin Maiden Park tomorrow, intent on maintaining a recent pattern.

Auckland took the 50-over crown in 2007, 2011 and 2013, with only Northern Districts in 2009 interrupting a streak of odd-numbered success.

It was no surprise, then, to see the Aces in the 2015 final, and their blueprint for tomorrow is equally predictable - a strong start with the bat, quick runs from the hard-hitting middle order, and early wickets.

The difficulty, of course, will be enacting the plan against a CD side boasting the competition's top run-scorer (George Worker) and top wicket-taker (Andrew Mathieson).

Auckland managed to negate the Stags' various weapons when the sides met in last weekend's major semifinal, but, as Colin Munro explained, little could be gleaned in a game offering an extra life.

"It wasn't really a must-win game," Munro said of his side's 45-run win. "It was a matter of going out there and expressing yourself - if it came off, we'd have the week off, and if not, we'd have another couple of games.

"You can take a little bit of momentum but that's the first time we've beaten them this year. They'd beaten us earlier in the season, and in the T20 and also the four-dayer, so they probably have the wood over us."

One way to change that, on a pitch promising pace and bounce, will be repeating last weekend's efforts with the ball, when Worker and Jamie How were dismissed within six overs.

"Jamie will have no fear - it's going to be his last game for CD and he's been playing as though he doesn't really care, which is a dangerous Jamie," Munro said.

"If we can get a couple of breakthroughs and put them under pressure, it showed in the last game that their middle to lower order might not deal with the pressure too well. "

And with the bat in their hands, Auckland will be attempting to achieve something they have failed to accomplish since Martin Guptill joined the national side.

"We haven't fired at the top since Guptill's left, so if we can do that it'll dishearten their bowlers a bit, then you've got the likes of [Colin] de Grandhomme coming in," Munro said. "If we can hold them for the last 10-15 overs, then we'll probably be looking at a big total."