2026/27 Ford Trophy: Round One Basics
Northern Districts and Otago had away wins in Nelson and Wellington to start their Ford Trophy campaign, while Auckland defended their home turf against Canterbury.
Auckland
Win vs Canterbury | 1-0 | 4 points
Best Performers vs Canterbury
Sean Solia: 120 runs @ 101sr | 2w @ 7.1rpo
Dale Phillips: 112 runs @ 118sr
Cam Fletcher: 58 runs @ 135sr
Ryan Harrison: 26* @ 236sr
Angus Olliver: 3w @ 7rpo
Adi Ashok: 3w @ 7.1rpo
Notebook
Harry Cullen-Hieatt is 21yr lefty seamer who made his debut for Auckland.
Lachlan Stackpole has taken a wicket in each format as a righty tweaker.
Adi Ashok's wickets in last 10 games: 2, 2, 0, 4, 0, 2, 1, 1, 1, 3.
He is averaging below 35 in all three formats which is really good for a kiwi spinner.
Northern Districts
Win vs Central Districts | 1-0 | 4 points
Best Performers vs Central Districts
Rob O'Donnell: 145 runs @ 142sr
Michael Sclanders: 97 runs @ 108sr | 2w @ 7.6rpo
Xavier Bell: 50* @ 157sr
Brett Hampton: 44 runs @ 157sr | 1w @ 6.7rpo
Katene Clarke: 36 runs @ 171sr
Josh Brown: 3w @ 4.3rpo
James Naylor: 3w @ 6rpo
Notebook
Rob O'Donnell has centuries in consecutive innings for ND. He finished last season with a knock of 101 and starts this season with 145. Currently averaging 34+ in each format.
Michael Sclanders previously played for Auckland and has 46.2avg/83sr in LA batting.
Josh Brown averages 32-35 with the ball across formats.
James Naylor's wickets in domestic cricket: 1, 0, 2, 4, 1, 3.
Katene Clarke batted lower down the order and that's probably his best way to stay in the 1st 11 outside of Super Smash.
Central Districts
Loss vs Northern Districts | 0-1 | 0 points
Best Performers vs Northern Districts
Toby Findlay: 3w @ 7.7rpo
Ajaz Patel: 2w @ 9.8rpo | 35* @ 135sr
Sam Cassidy: 137 runs @ 147sr
Josh Clarkson: 74 runs @ 123sr
Notebook
Sam Cassidy was on LA debut. He has 37.5avg/125sr in five Super Smash innings.
Josh Clarkson's recent scores: 6, 27*, 8, 25*, 22*, 14, 74.
Clarkson averages 28+ with the bat in all three formats and has a LA strike-rate of 97.5 across 99 innings.
Ajaz Patel averages 15 in First-Class and LA batting.
Toby Findlay's wickets in last 10 games: 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 2, 1, 1, 0, 2, 0, 4, 1, 3.
Wellington
Loss vs Otago | 0-1 | 0 points
Best Performers vs Otago
Oscar Jackson: 52 runs @ 88sr
Jesse Tashkoff: 45 runs @ 79sr | 1w @ 8rpo
Notebook
Oscar Jackson has two 50+ scores in seven LA innings.
Jesse Tashkoff's scores in last 10 games: 21, 12, 1, 51, 1, 109, 33, 1, 4, 37, 33, 0, 101, 45.
Canterbury
Loss vs Auckland | 0-1 | 0 points
Best Performers vs Auckland
Angus McKenzie: 2w @ 6.1rpo
Chad Bowes: 154 runs @ 142sr
Notebook
Chad Bowes in List-A batting: 39.36avg/90.6sr.
Cameron Paul and Lachlan Harper in the team together as seaming all-rounders.
Matt Rowe has a wicket in his first two Ford Trophy games. He also hit 21 runs @ 191sr down the order vs Auckland.
Otago
Win vs Wellington | 0-1 | 5 points
Best Performers vs Otago
Matt Bacon: 3w @ 4.5rpo
Ben Lockrose: 3w @ 5.3rpo
Thomas O'Connor: 2w @ 4.4rpo
Jack Boyle: 74* @ 67sr
Jacob Cumming: 71 runs @ 114sr
Jamal Todd: 21* @ 161sr
Notebook
Jack Boyle's best format is LA with 35.95avg/72sr. He has three 50+ scores in his last five innings.
Jacob Cumming hit his first 50+ in LA batting. He is averaging 28.6 in FC and 27.2 in LA.
Cumming's scores in last 10 games: 5, 5, 23, 6*, 49, 58, 33, 18*, 7, 45, 6, 12, 71.
Matt Bacon averages below 32 in all three formats and he has taken 3 wickets in three of his last four innings.
Thomas O'Connor has 2+ wickets in seven of his last eight innings.
Thorn Parkes was wicket-keeper for Otago with Max Chu in the NZ-A group.
Support independent New Zealand sports coverage on Patreon and access our bonus kiwi cricket podcast each week. You can also donate directly through Buy Me A Coffee to help us do what we love.