Gareth Hopkins helped carry Auckland to victory against the Central Stags two weeks ago. Photo / Getty Images
Gareth Hopkins would like to think Auckland have carved out a small edge over Central Districts to take into Sunday's domestic Twenty20 final.
Then, in the next breath, he downplayed that possible advantage, pointing to the raft of potentially decisive figures both teams possess in the HRV Cup, which reaches
its conclusion at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.
Auckland lost home advantage when they were beaten in the bowl off by Otago in the final round robin game at Colin Maiden Park on Tuesday night, but they have had CD's measure twice in the month.
Hopkins, with a slashing unbeaten 71 in 44 balls, and Scott Styris with 45 not out off 36, carried Auckland to a seven-wicket win on January 10; then they held off CD by one run in Nelson a week later in a thrilling finale when Jacob Oram, needing a six off the final ball, landed it just a couple of feet inside the rope at the point boundary.
"I suppose we do take a little bit of confidence out of those two games," Hopkins said yesterday. "We chased one and defended one, and both times came out on top. But they've got matchwinners and so do we."
And it's that element that Hopkins - chuffed to be recalled to New Zealand's Twenty20 squad for next Wednesday's match against Bangladesh in Hamilton - tips will decide the final.
"It'll come down to one of those guys stepping up and having a match-winning performance. Whoever that is will get their side over the line," he said.
The winner of the final gets a lucrative trip to the Champions League in India to follow Otago, last year's representatives. Hopkins says there has been little talk among his players about that prospect.
"We've just been concentrating on trying to make the final. I guess once it's done and dusted then you start talking about India and getting excited about that. I know when we were away [last year] with A teams and the Black Caps, that's all the Otago boys talked about," he quipped.
Auckland hope their in-form new ball bowler Daryl Tuffey is fit, after damaging the webbing on a hand against Canterbury last weekend. He had it taped up and got through unscathed against Otago.
Both teams have won the domestic title in the past three years - Auckland in 2007, CD a year later. Sunday's showdown will be the second final in three years at Pukekura Park.
