Cricket: How did that happen?

Auckland's Martin Guptill celebrates his century. Photo / PHOTOSPORT

A record-breaking first round of the Ford Trophy saw bat totally dominate ball - until it didn't.

All three one-day matches were won by the team batting first, with margins of 222 (Otago over Northern Districts), 217 (Central Districts over Canterbury) and 193 (Auckland over Wellington).

Until yesterday 211 was the largest margin of victory in List A history in this country. Now three of the top six on that particular table will be marked with 27/12/14.

It was a remarkable day of domestic cricket, highlighted by another electrifying knock from Jamie How. He scored 177 from 99 balls opening the batting for Central Districts and made a mockery of the Pukekura Park boundaries.

How's knock means he now holds the top two scores in domestic one-dayers, with yesterday's effort still trailing the 222 he notched at Seddon Park a couple of seasons ago.

The former Black Cap yesterday smacked 14 sixes and as many fours, meaning 140 of his runs came from finding the fence. He shared a 170-run first-wicket stand with George Worker (71) that meant Doug Bracewell's late cameo (78 from 34) was little more than the cherry on top in the innings of 405.

Matt Henry was the only Canterbury bowler to return an RPO under six while Andrew Ellis recorded figures of 5-97 from his 10 overs.

But, as quickly as the clean hitting arrived, it completely disappeared at the halfway mark. Canterbury crumbled to 188 all out as Adam Milne grabbed 4-48 and the visitors as a team managed seven fewer boundaries than How hit himself.

There were similar scenes in Auckland as Martin Guptill cracked 111 from 109 balls to set Auckland on the way to an equally-comprehensive victory. Guptill set the platform and Craig Cachopa (70 from 42) and Colin Munro (79 from 40) finished it off as Auckland racked up 385-5.

And, once more, the switch was flipped in the change of innings, as Wellington's top order collapsed en route to 192 all out. No one in the top five reached double figures as the visitors slumped to 48-6, before half centuries from Grant Elliott and Luke Woodcock at least salvaged a modicum of respectability.

Otago's win in Alexandra was the largest of the lot, even with a comparatively tame total of 335-7 (although it was the highest 50-over total at Molyneaux Park), compiled courtesy of Michael Bracewell (98 off 79) and Aaron Redmond (63).

The Volts instead had their bowlers to thank for their record, skittling Northern Districts for 133 inside 28 overs.

Sam Wells and Jacob Duffy snared three scalps each while only four Northern Districts batsmen sneaked past 10. NZME