Cricket: Vincent masterclass sets up Auckland victory

Lou Vincent of Aces celebrates after scoring a century during the one day final. Photo / Getty Images

A cricketing masterpiece from Lou Vincent has had the ultimate reward with his Auckland team riding their nerves before winning the domestic one-day final against Canterbury.

The former international was a class apart today when crafting a classical 153 off 152 balls as Auckland piled on 335 for five at QEII Park in Christchurch.

Once Vincent had laid waste to Canterbury's bowlers the home side required something extraordinary to win their first one-day title in five years. Instead, while they were anything but ordinary their robust reply reached 329 for nine to leave Auckland celebrating their first title in four seasons.

For that they largely have to thank Vincent, a 32-year-old playing his 210th one-day match at this level.

Once he decided that if an job is worth doing it is worth doing properly he struck 16 fours and one six in three hours of controlled aggression.

He reached the 10th one-day century of his domestic career in the 34th over with Auckland at a threatening 180 for three as he and Greg Todd were in the midst of a boisterous fourth wicket stand which realised 136 runs in 22 overs.

Vincent was at his vivacious best and, much like an artist delights in expressing himself, he shared his talents by producing a couple of reverse sweeps, one a ho hum effort against a spinner and the other an altogether different beast off fast medium bowler Andy Ellis.

"That's right up there with one of my most memorable innings," Vincent told NZPA after his third century of the summer lifted his one-day aggregate in 2010-11 to 642 runs at an average of 71.33.

"When it comes to finals time there are lots of distractions and there are a lot of nerves floating around.

"To stand up for the Auckland boys who I desperately love - I have had such a wonderful time with Auckland since the age of 18- so to be part of the winning team and make a big contribution towards that is one of the most satisfying moments of my career."

Vincent and Todd were eventually parted with Auckland on 276 for four in the 46th over when left-hander Todd holed out for 46 off spinner Martin Kain and Vincent was not long in joining his teammate in the pavilion when his clinically brilliant innings ended when he was deceived by a slower ball from underfire quick bowler Richard Sherlock.

Colin de Grandhomme, with 26 off 10 balls, and Colin Munro, with 21 not out off 11, then completed the carnage by hurrying their team past the 300 marks as the runs flowed like wine in the closing overs.

None of the Canterbury attack were spared, with Sherlock coughing up 75 runs off eight entertaining overs while Rob Nicol and Mitchell Claydon had some satisfaction in completing their full complement of overs while keeping the Aucklanders to under six runs an over.

Canterbury's pursuit began inauspiciously as Michael Papps and Peter Fulton were dismissed cheaply before Rob Nicol and Dean Brownlie kept their heads above water with a fine partnership of 136 for the third wicket.

Brownlie was then the first to go, for 60 off 66 balls, while Nicol went on to complete an excellent century, reaching 119 off 112 balls, with eight fours and four sixes.

Although Nicol's outstanding contribution was in vain it did lift his one-day aggregate this summer to 648 runs at a Vincent-esque average of 72.

Shanan Stewart built on Nicol's good work with a high quality 60 off just 47 balls as Canterbury edged past 300 themselves and with an over remaining they required 17 runs.

They stayed in touch down the stretch but tailenders Mitchell Claydon and Richard Sherlock could not complete the deal with test paceman Chris Martin gave away only 10 runs.

Auckland

J Raval c Fulton b Ellis 38
L Vincent c Fulton b Sherlock 153
G Hopkins c Stewart b Astle 18
A Kitchen c and b Nicol 8
G Todd c sub b Kain 46
C de Grandhomme c Young b Sherlock 26
C Munro not out 21
R Hira not out 6

Extras (4lb, 13w, 1nb) 18

Total (for 6 wkts) 335

Fall: 92, 129, 140, 276, 281, 319.
Bowling: M Claydon 10-0-58-1 (1w), R Sherlock 8-1-75-2 (1nb), A Ellis 10-0-77-1 (3w), R Nicol 10-1-52-1, T Astle 6-0-35-1 (2w), M Kain 6-0-33-1.

Canterbury

R Nicol c Kitchen b de Grandhomme 119
M Papps c Raval b Tuffey 10
P Fulton st Hopkins b Adams 12
D Brownlie c Kitchen b Hira 60
S Stewart b Martin 60
R Young c Hopkins b Tuffey 5
A Ellis c Hopkins b Adams 18
T Astle run out 6
M Claydon b Martin 13
M Kain not out 2
R Sherlock not out 3

Extras (4lb, 17w) 21
Total (for 9 wkts) 329
Fall: 24, 52, 188, 230, 244, 292, 310, 317, 325.
Bowling: D Tuffey 10-0-65-2 (1w), C Martin 10-0-65-2 (3w), A Adams 10-1-71-2(3w), R Hira 10-0-55-1, C de Grandhomme 6-0-35-1 (1w), A Kitchen 4-0-34-0 (1w).
Result: Auckland won by six runs.

- NZPA