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          The Ford Trophy at Rangiora, Jan 21 2015
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          The Ford Trophy at Rangiora, Jan 21 2015
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          Northern Districts make playoffs

          • ESPNcricinfo staff
          Jan 20, 2015, 08:00 AM

          Northern Districts qualified for the playoffs after finishing fourth in the league by beating Auckland by two wickets in a low-scoring contest in Mount Maunganui. Graeme Aldridge set up the result, taking 4 for 18 to help dismiss Auckland for 160 in 43.5 overs. They were 65 for 7 in the 18th over before Carl Cachopa made 51 and Tarun Nethula 41 to prop up the innings. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner took two wickets each for Northern Districts.

          The chase of 161 was going smoothly for Northern Districts, with their openers adding 37, until they lost their first three wickets for five runs. Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling added 52 for the fourth wicket, but there was another slide after that which left Northern Districts on 150 for 8, needing 11 runs to win. Scott Kuggeleijn and Jono Boult got the job done. Matthew Quinn, with 3 for 19, was Auckland's best bowler.

          Canterbury's outside chances of making the playoffs ended after rain washed out their match against Otago in Rangiora. Only 23 overs were bowled after Otago were sent in to bat, and they had reached 109 for 1 when the final rain interruption proved decisive. Aaron Redmond was unbeaten on 54.

          Bottom-placed Wellington scored a consolation win in their last league match over table toppers Central Districts at Basin Reserve. Wellington made 244 for 7 after winning the toss, with half-centuries from Stephen Murdoch and Tom Blundell. Jamie Gibson provided the acceleration by smacking 42 off 35 balls before he was dismissed off the last ball of the innings. Andrew Mathieson took 3 for 51 for Central Districts.

          The chase started poorly for Central Districts, with Matt McEwan reducing them to 0 for 2 in the first over. Dane Hutchinson then dismissed Jamie How and McEwan had Will Young caught behind and Central Districts were foundering at 19 for 4 in 6.2 overs. The middle and lower order rallied but it wasn't enough to prevent defeat by 22 runs. McEwan finished with 4 for 41 for Wellington, while spinner Luke Woodcock conceded only 31 runs and took two wickets in his ten overs.