Cricket: Playing for place in Champions League

Peter Fulton says the two teams know each other's game pretty well. Photo / Getty Images

Different goals, but the same objective. That's what lies ahead tomorrow for Auckland and Canterbury as they contest the HRV Cup final at Colin Maiden Park.

As defending champions, Auckland are aiming to become the first New Zealand team to make it to the Champions League twice.

Between them, Otago, Central Districts and Auckland have collectively lost all eight games in the Indian-run T20 tournament for leading teams from several major nations.

Frankly it's a dreadful record and not one to inspire the organisers to keep issuing invitations.

Canterbury want their chance to do something about that and their captain, former international batsman Peter Fulton, admitted it is parked at the backs of his players' minds.

"For any guys who haven't played international cricket it will be the biggest day of their careers so far, I'd imagine. That's why you play and why teams put a big emphasis on T20."

Canterbury's record against Auckland in the T20 was lean until last Tuesday night. Auckland had won four of the previous five clashes in the shortest form.

They have batsmen in good nick, headed by opener Rob Nicol, who has had a fine campaign, highlighted by a memorable hundred against Auckland in their final round robin game in Auckland last Tuesday.

Their bowling attack is fast-medium-dominated and although Auckland topped the round robin with seven wins from their 10 games, Canterbury will harbour hopes they are coming to a head at precisely the right time.

Fulton sees similarities between the two teams. Both have operated small squads and have strategies they are happy working with.

"We know each other's games pretty well. We try and keep it pretty simple, and if you have that continuity within your side it lets guys know what they have to do and they can go out and do it without having to overcomplicate things."

Just as Nicol has been Canterbury's dominant figure, so too has Martin Guptill consistently been Auckland's talismanic figure.

His 434 runs at 72 are the runaway best batting figures.

"He's been on fire," Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins said. "He's won us more than a handful of games but we've always been prepared for when 'Guppy' fails. With the calibre of people we've got coming in the middle - Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Kyle Mills and Ronnie Hira - we're pretty confident in any given situation they'll step up."

Left arm spinner Hira is the leading wicket-taker in the cup, and Auckland have had good returns from left arm seamer Michael Bates and Mills. Nicol, Matt Henry and Arafat have done good work for Canterbury.

One thing's certain; unlike those situations where a team can make a final on the back of a hefty dose of good fortune, this one features the two best teams.

Domestic T20 finals

2006: Canterbury bt Auckland by six wickets, Eden Park
2007: Auckland bt Otago by 60 runs, Eden Park
2008: CD bt ND by five wickets, New Plymouth
2009: Otago bt Canterbury, washout, on better record, Dunedin
2010: CD bt Auckland by 78 runs, New Plymouth
2011: Auckland bt CD by four runs, Colin Maiden Park.

HRV Cup final

Colin Maiden Park
2pm tomorrow

Auckland:
(from) Gareth Hopkins (c), Martin Guptill, Azhar Mahmood, Brad Cachopa, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Ronnie Hira, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Bruce Martin, Michael Bates.

Canterbury:
(from) Peter Fulton (c), Rob Nicol, George Worker, Dean Brownlie, Shanan Stewart, Tom Latham, Brendan Diamanti, Andrew Ellis, Reece Young, Mitchell Claydon, Matt Henry, Yasir Arafat, Ryan McCone.