Firebirds secure final Ford Trophy berth
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
In a perfect script for the capital’s cricket fans, both of Wellington’s representative teams have reached the national one-day finals weekend set to be played at their home ground, the Basin Reserve, over the coming days.
The predetermined venue for both the men’s Ford Trophy and women’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield deciders was confirmed months ago, and now the Wellington Firebirds and Wellington Blaze are locked in for their home city supporters.
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The Firebirds on Wednesday became the final piece in the puzzle, joining Central Districts for Friday’s Ford Trophy elimination final, with the winner facing top qualifiers Canterbury in Sunday’s grand final.
Jesse Tashkoff and Nathan Smith with the bat and James Hartshorn and Peter Younghusband with ball guided Wellington to a 118-run bonus-point victory.
After opener Tashkoff scored 51 from 65 balls, Smith added 64 not out from 47 as the Firebirds posted 281-7 from 50 overs. Scott Kuggeleijn took 3-69 from 10 overs for ND.
Hartshorn took 3-23 from five and Younghusband 4-38 from 9.1 as Northern’s chase never got off the ground, all out for 163 in the 37th over, despite half-centuries from Henry Cooper and Xavier Bell.
The Blaze meanwhile gets ready to play women’s top qualifier Northern Districts in Saturday’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final — a title Northern has never won. ND has never won a title in either Domestic format in New Zealand.
While they will be playing on home turf, neither Wellington team will be the ‘home’ team come toss time, with Central (elimination final), Canterbury (grand final) and Northern Districts women having earned that privilege by finishing higher on the table in the regular season.
In the event of no result, the higher qualifier is deemed the winner — but with a mercifully cooperative weather forecast, that will hopefully be a redundant point.
The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final and Ford Trophy grand final will be broadcast on NZC YouTube with a multi-camera livestream and expert commentary team.
White Ferns and Hearts legends Emily Drumm and Katie Perkins will be involved for the women’s final, with Black Cap and Central Districts' Ajaz Patel and retired Auckland Aces wicketkeeper-batter Ben Horne for the men’s final.
NATIONAL ONE-DAY CRICKET FINALS
FORD TROPHY ELIMINATION FINAL
Friday, February 20, 10.30am
Central Districts vs Wellington Firebirds
FORD TROPHY GRAND FINAL
Sunday, February 22, 10.30am
Canterbury vs winner of Elimination Final
HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD FINAL
Saturday, February 21, 10.30am
Northern Districts vs Wellington Blaze
