Cricket: Stags taking ownership

Ben Wheeler made his debut for the Black Caps during the England tour last winter and the incremental gains are reflected in his campaign for the CD Stags this summer. Photo / Getty Images

With Jesse Ryder taking a vow of silence on media, it was left to Ben Wheeler to convey the euphoric state in Christchurch.

"It was a pretty awesome feeling to come off the field knowing we're in the final," said Wheeler after the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags upset the Canterbury Kings by two wickets in their limited-over Ford Trophy 1st v 2nd qualifying match at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

Not only did the William Young-captained side gain direct entry to the televised grand final but the defending champions have secured the hosting rights to stage it at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, this Saturday.

Top qualifiers Kings have a second life in the elimination final and play the Otago Volts on Wednesday after they thumped the Auckland Aces by 125 runs on the DL Method in Invercargill on Saturday.

"Today was more about the test of our character and our skills and that's the same thing in the final when we'll have to stand up to get the job done," Black Cap Wheeler said, after Young won the toss and elected to bowl.

The hosts "got off to a flier" but the Heinrich Malan-coached visitors did well to keep the Kings to 294-8 in 50 overs on the platform of Tom Latham's 126 runs (his third List A ton).

"Dougie sat the tone to show us why he is a Black Cap and leader of our bowling attack," said Wheeler of allrounder Doug Bracewell, who took 3-55 at first change, and this summer's "Mr Consistent", Seth Rance, who opened with 3-56.

Spinner Ajaz Patel, who came in before No1 tweaker Marty Kain (12th man), was the most frugal with 0-22 from five overs but Wheeler and Blair Tickner (coming in for Bevan Small while Kain, returning from a side strain, carried the drinks) didn't go for more than seven an over.

Team manager Lance Hamilton said Small was down with a virus and hadn't got out of bed for two days.

Part-timers Ryder (7.75 runs an over) and George Worker (6.67) added to the cause.

However, the heroics came in the run chase as CD eclipsed the target with 295 and had three balls to spare.

After openers Worker and Ben Smith sold their wickets for loose change, first drop Ryder stepped in to stop the rot.

The question was who else was going to keep him company?

No5 Tom Bruce made the right noises with 31 runs but it was a false dawn as Young, Bracewell and wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver came and went.

Enter No8 Wheeler with the score at 106/6 and, with Ryder, they began a pyrotechnic symphony to the tune of a seventh-wicket stand of 163 that smashed the the trophy record for all teams.

The 136 runs off 143 balls was a maiden ton for CD comeback kid Ryder, his highest in the format (previously 115) and his eighth A-List one.

"Well, to be honest, probably the game was a long way away when I walked in to bat," said Wheeler, who also carved up a career best 80 off 77 balls to eclipse his 53 against Northern Districts this season.

"I had a swing or two, got a few in the middle," said the 24-year-old from Marlborough, adding that the longer the pair occupied the crease the more they felt comfortable about staying out there.

With Ryder "ticking it along", Wheeler kept his composure, comfortable in the former Black Cap's ability to pick up boundaries at opportune times.

"It's definitely the best knock I've ever had with anyone," he said as Ryder hit seven sixes and 13 fours to his 10 boundaries.

The pair's partnership also was the best between the two teams, eclipsing the 94 runs Ben Smith and former Stag Tarun Nethula (now playing for the Aces) mustered at Nelson Park, Napier in 2012-13.

The Wellington Firebirds pair of Matthew Bell and Stephen Mather held the previous competition best of an unbeaten 130, established against the Knights in 1997-98.