Cricket: Wins for Auckland, Canterbury in Ford Trophy

Auckland Aces batsman Brad Cachopa in action against the Northern Knights, during the 1-Day Ford Trophy cricket match, held at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland today. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Auckland Aces have carried their Twenty20 form into the one-day arena, dismantling Northern Districts by eight wickets at Colin Maiden Park today.

Fresh of their T20 triumph on Sunday, Auckland returned to the same venue and seemed to forget they had a full complement of 50 overs in which to claim the win.

They bowled out the Knights for 99 before racing to their target for the loss of just two wickets inside of 17 overs, consolidating their position at the top of the Ford Trophy standings.

The victory was set up by an inspired spell of bowling from left-arm quick Mitchell McClenaghan. Making his one-day debut for Auckland, the former Central Districts man tore through the Knights' top order to claim three wickets in his first eight balls before finishing with 5-30 from seven overs.

Northern Districts struggled to forge any partnerships on the same wicket that was a batsman's paradise during the T20 competition, with Daryl Mitchell - son of former All Blacks coach John - the only Northern batsman to surpass the extras total of 14.

In reply, Auckland experienced none of the trouble that the visitors encountered at the crease, with Anaru Kitchen's 55 helping the Aces to overcome the early losses of openers Brad Cachopa and Tim McIntosh.

It was the Aces' fourth win in five competed games in this year's competition, leaving them three points clear at the top of the table. On Auckland's tails is Canterbury, as the two sides who competed for the T20 title now battle for supremacy in the 50-over format.

The Wizards marked themselves as Auckland's main threat after a huge first innings total of 306 proved barely enough to see off a valiant chase from Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

That total was set up by a maiden century from talented teenager Tom Latham, whose 130 came from just 119 balls and featured 14 fours and three sixes. Latham enjoyed a century stand with opener Rob Nicol (55), the only other Wizards' batsman to score more than 30.

Latham eventually fell to Harry Boam in the final over, but some late hitting from Matt Henry ensured Canterbury reached the psychological barrier of 300.

Thanks to their own centurion Stephen Murdoch, Wellington made an impressive attempt in their chase. The Firebirds started slowly and lost both openers cheaply, but Murdoch and both James Franklin and Grant Elliott combined well to put their side within touching distance.

But Murdoch's departure in the 44th over saw Wellington lose their final five wickets for 46 runs to fall 19 runs short. Ryan McCone was the pick of the bowlers for the victors, claiming 4-63 from nine overs including the key wicket of Murdoch.

The day's other game, between Otago and Central Districts, was abandoned after just eight overs in Invercargill - which was probably just the best for the visitors, who were teetering at 34-3 when the heavens opened.