Otago's final hopes washed away, Canterbury through

Rain spoiled Otago's chances of making the Ford Trophy final, washing out the third preliminary final between them and Canterbury in Christchurch. Canterbury, who were 108 for 4 in 26 overs when the weather ended play, went through courtesy having finished higher on the points table than Otago during the league stage.

Canterbury will now face Central Districts in the final, in New Plymouth, on January 30. The same two teams, after finishing in the top two on the points table, had faced off in the first preliminary final on January 23. Central Districts had won that game to go straight through to the final, while Canterbury had to face the winner of the second preliminary final - a game contested by Otago and Auckland, the teams that finished at Nos. 3 and 4 on the points table. That match too was rain-marred, but Otago easily got the better of Auckland, winning by 125 runs via the Duckworth/Lewis method.