2 Jan 2011

Aces win national Twenty20 cricket final

6:53 pm on 2 January 2011

Auckland has beaten Central Districts by four runs to win the national Twenty20 cricket final at Colin Maiden Park.

Auckland bowler Michael Bates was the star with a triple wicket maiden off the Aces' first over after the home side made a very gettable 158 for eight.

But Central Districts, the defending champions, lost opener Peter Ingram on the very first delivery for a platinum duck ... then Bates also claimed the Stags skipper Jamie How and Ian Blackwell for golden ducks, ending runs short on 154 for nine.

The win earns the Aucklanders a place at the lucrative Champions League tournament later in the year.