The Canterbury Kings celebrate winning the Ford Trophy. Photo: Photosport
Mitch Hay struck a career-best 86 to power defending champions Canterbury to a six-wicket win over Auckland in the final of the domestic one-day final in Dunedin.
Canterbury raced to 254-4 off 46 overs in response to Auckland's 250, with wicket-keeper batsman Hay providing the late impetus, striking six sixes in a 76-ball knock after opener Henry Nicholls had scored 52.
Auckland were on the back foot from the opening stages, falling to 20-3 and 57-5 against a disciplined Canterbury attack.
Black Caps Zakary Foulkes (3-40) and Ish Sodhi (3-53) took three wickets each, with Auckland eventually battling back into the contest through knocks of 58 not out to Lachlan Stackpole and 48 to Simon Keene.
Hay said he never felt comfortable until late in the chase.
"When we still needed about 40 off 40, I was still a little bit tense, at that stage," he said.
"After that (43rd) over when I got a couple away, I was bit more relaxed, and when the rain was looming at the end, I told Rips (Michael Rippon) to get a move on because I didn't want it to go down to DLS."
"It's a competition and format that we really enjoy playing and I'm sure the Auckland boys are the same. It was special to get a win - especially after the hurt of the Dream11 Super Smash Final (won by the Central Stags, against the Canterbury Kings), not too long ago."
