Auckland Aces beat Canterbury by 219 runs - bonus point win
Kennards Hire Community Oval
18 February 2022
The Auckland Aces had a big day out with the bat as they embarked on a Ford Trophy home run of four matches, with the highlight being captain Robbie O'Donnell reaching his maiden List A century.
O'Donnell finished with an unbeaten 100 not out, off 79 balls, with six boundaries and five sixes in his side's big total of 365/5 off 50 overs.
That was Auckland's fifth highest ever one-day total.
CENTURY | Robbie O'Donnell and Ben Horne scamper through for a pair of twos and the skipper goes to 100* off 79 balls!
— Auckland Cricket (@aucklandcricket) February 18, 2022
ACES | 365/5 (50)
SCORING | https://t.co/ynKG189pNs#FordTrophy #FollowSuit 🔵🏏 pic.twitter.com/HGZn6DdnYE
Earlier, Martin Guptill had set the pace with a knock of 90 off 83 balls (seven boundaries, six sixes) in his 50th Ford Trophy appearance for his Aces side.
Mark Chapman (64) and O'Donnell then set a new record fourth-wicket stand for the Aces with their partnership of 149, while the Aces' eventual winning margin of 219 runs - after having dismissed defending champion Canterbury for 146 - is the Aces' biggest winning margin in this format, eclipsing the previous record margin of 211 against the Central Stags in 2012/13 at the same venue.
That's a lot of statchat, and it was the last thing last season's one-day champion Canterbury needed as they watched their 2021/22 campaign sink further, outclassed on the day.
The bonus-point win swept the Aces up to third on the table, while luckless Canterbury occupies the bottom rung of the ladder with just one win from nine rounds, including four washouts.
Teenage leg-spinner Adithya Ashok continued a strong debut summer for the Aces, with another List A career best haul - claiming 4-25 off his seven overs.