A record-breaking hundred from Colin Munro has led Auckland to a comfortable seven-wicket win in their domestic one-day clash against Canterbury at Eden Park Outer Oval.
Colin Munro goes on the attack for the Auckland Aces. Photo: Photosport
Opening the batting for the home team, Black Caps all-rounder Munro blasted 174 not out from just 118 balls as Auckland eclipsed the visitors total of 277 with more than seven overs to spare on Wednesday.
The innings was the highest score for Auckland in a List A match, the hard-hitting 30-year-old crunching 22 fours and six sixes for a total of 124 runs in boundaries.
Support for Munro came in the form of an unbeaten 55 to Mark Chapman and 30 to fellow opener Michael Guptill-Bunce.
Munro did the damage against a Canterbury bowling attack that included Ben Stokes, but the England international got away lightly compared to some of his team-mates.
Stokes conceded a comparatively good 39 from seven wicketless overs as seam duo Fraser Sheat and Will Williams and spinners Cole McConchie and Jeremy Benton all went for more than eight an over.
Earlier in the day, Stokes was one of several contributors as Canterbury posted a respectable 277-9 from their 50 overs.
After making just two on his Canterbury debut at the weekend, Christchurch-born Stokes struck four boundaries to make 34 off 41 balls before he was out lbw trying to sweep leg-spinner Tarun Nethula.
Todd Astle top-scored for the visitors with 53, while No 11 Sheat, Cameron Fletcher, Michael Pollard, and Tim Johnston all got into the 30s.
Black Caps seamer Mitchell McClenaghan took four wickets for Auckland, with as Nethula finished up with three.
Elsewhere in the competition, Jesse Ryder continued his rich vein of form with the bat.
The former Black Caps all-rounder made 107 off only 106 balls as Central Districts collected an 85-run win against Northern Districts.
Ryder, who scored back-to-back tons in a four-day match against Auckland recently, hit 10 fours and three sixes, including an audacious late-cut ramp to bring up three figures.
Fringe New Zealand squad member George Worker made 96 off 115 balls opening the batting for the Stags, combining in a 205-run second-wicket stand with Ryder.
A quickfire 43 from Doug Bracewell helped Central Districts post 334-8, the Knights all out for 249 in 43.1 overs as Black Caps speedster Adam Milne, seamer Blair Tickner and leg-spinner Ajaz Patel all collected three wickets.
Otago were six-wicket victors over Wellington in the other match of the day in Dunedin.
The visitors made 253 all out batting first, before the home team reached their target for the loss of four wickets with 23 balls to spare.
