Auckland Aces 307-7 in 50 overs (Colin de Grandhomme 78, Craig Cachopa 66, Tarun Nethula 3-64) beat Devon Hotel Central Stags 215 all out in 39.1 overs (Mitchell McClenaghan 4-45, Michael Bates 2-14, Colin Munro 2-17, Jamie How 44) by 92 runs at Saxton Oval, Nelson
The Auckland Aces put in another strong performance with bat and ball on a stunning day in Nelson. Craig Cachopa and Colin de Grandhomme helped them reach 307 for seven, before their bowling attack withstood a strong start to bowl the Devon Hotel Central Stags out well short in the 40th over.
The Aces' top order all had starts through Martin Guptill (35), Anaru Kitchen (31) and Jeet Raval (44). It was Craig Cachopa with 66 from 62 deliveries and Colin de Grandhomme, who thumped 78 from 52, who really upped the tempo and took the total up toward 300. de Grandhomme in particular was unforgiving on anything wayward, and plundered seven fours and three sixes, including one onto the pavilion roof from Andrew Mathieson.
In reply, Jamie How and Ben Smith got the Stags off to a flyer with an 81 run opening stand, broken when Mitchell McClenaghan had Smith caught by Cachopa for 34 in the 16th over, which McClenaghan followed up by bowling How for 44 in the 18th. The Stags' momentum was stymied somewhat as the run rate headed toward eight an over, as Colin Munro chipped two wickets. From there, Kyle Mills (in his 250th List A match), captain Michael Bates and McClenaghan took control, bowling the Stags out 92 runs short in the 40th over, with Craig Cachopa taking five catches in the process.
