Ben Smith. Photo / NZME.
Auckland have failed in their bid to qualify for domestic cricket's Ford Trophy's major semifinal, falling instead into an elimination scrap with Otago on Saturday.
Needing victory from their final-round meeting with Central Districts to set up an encounter with top qualifiers Canterbury and earn a life in the playoffs,
Auckland today fell to a 47-run defeat at Eden Park Outer Oval.
The bowlers will share the majority of the blame for the result as the Stags racked up 348-7 from their 50 overs. CD, who finished second with the win, saw four players record half-centuries as almost every Auckland bowler suffered.
Opener Ben Smith kick-started his side with a run-a-ball 90 while Jesse Ryder (60) provided some able assistance, before Tom Bruce (91 from 62) and Doug Bracewell (52 from 23) cashed in at the death.
The match appeared a lost cause as early as the 14th over, when Auckland slumped to 35-4. And while Hong Kong youngster Mark Chapman managed his highest List A score, smashing 157 from 111 balls, the Aces' early struggles proved too much to overcome as they were restricted to 301-9.
