You could call it the dance of the desperates.
Or, perhaps, today’s one-day game in Queenstown can be viewed as a vital opportunity for both the Otago Volts and the Auckland Aces to rescue some pride and get into a positive mood before the resumption of the Plunket Shield.
Either way, both sides will be hoping to at least get some cricket after an annoying spell of wash-outs.
Otago have named an unchanged squad from their previous two games in Invercargill and Nelson, both of which were rained off.
That could mean a special day out for Queenstown youngsters Hugo Bogue and Mason Clarke at their home John Davies Oval.
The Volts (six points) are guaranteed to earn the Ford Trophy wooden spoon but, after six losses and three no-results, they should be highly motivated to avoid a winless campaign.
Auckland (16) have had a moderate season with three wins, five losses and one abandonment.
The Aces are five points off a playoff spot, and cannot make the top three as the two sides above them in the table are playing each other.
Auckland seamer Simon Keene will be thirsting for action after returning from injury against Northern Districts on Friday and taking a wicket with his second ball before the rain came.
Top qualifiers Canterbury (35) are on the road to second-placed Central Districts (25), while Wellington (21) host Northern Districts (19) in a virtual quarterfinal that has been postponed to tomorrow due to road closures and flight cancellations.
After the Queenstown game, Otago have 11 days to prepare for the first of their four remaining Plunket Shield games.
Ford Trophy
Queenstown, 10.30am
Otago: Hugo Bogue, Jacob Cumming, Jack Boyle, Luke Georgeson (captain), Max Chu, Troy Johnson, Zac Cumming, Ben Lockrose, Matt Bacon, Mason Clarke, Jarrod McKay, Thomas O’Connor.
Auckland: Sean Solia (captain), Dale Phillips, Harrish Kannan, Cam Fletcher, Bevon Jacobs, Ryan Harrison, Adi Ashok, Harjot Johal, Rohit Gulati, Ben Lister, Simon Keene, Sid Dixit.
