Monday, April 6th, 2015

Munro Has To Settle For Runners-Up Double After Fine Winter With The Bat

Munro Has To Settle For Runners-Up Double After Fine Winter With The Bat

Colin Munro will head back to New Road next month for the NatWest T20 Blast after a winter to remember with Auckland – but also the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a trophy double.

The left hander averaged over 50 in both the Ford Trophy 50 over competition and the four-day Plunket Shield.

Munro finished as Auckland's second highest run scorer in the Ford Trophy with 368 runs at an average of 52.57 – just one run behind Craig Cachopa – and a strike rate of 52.57.

He hit four fifties in his 10 knocks.

Auckland reached the final but had to settle for runners-up spot after being beaten in the final by Central Districts.

Munro did even better in the Plunket Shield, top scoring for Auckland with 899 runs at an average of 56.18 and a strike rate of 103.45.

That included a world record 23 sixes in the first innings against Central Districts – the highest tally ever in a first class innings – as he made a career best 281.

Munro hit 46 sixes and 86 fours meaning 620 of his 899 runs came in boundaries.

He scored three hundreds and three fifties in his nine appearances.

But Munro missed the final game against Otago because of a rocked ankle and, although his side won by six wickets, they finished in second spot behind Canterbury who defeated Northern Districts in their final game.

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FORD TROPHY

Guptill Matches 4, Innings 4, Not Outs 0, Runs 278, Highest Score 111, Average 69.50

Munro 10 10 3 368 79* 52.57

Nicol 6 6 2 191 69 47.75

C Cachopa 10 10 0 369 110 36.90

Bates 9 6 2 118 44* 29.50

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PLUNKETT SHIELD 

Guptill-Bunce Matches 1 Innings 2, Not Outs 0, Runs 179, Highest Score 91, Average 89.50

B Cachopa 10 16 5 783 135* 71.18

Munro 9 16 0 899 281 56.18

Raval 10 19 1 876 148 48.66

Grobbelaar 10 17 3 448 99 32.00

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FINAL PLUNKET SHIELD TABLE

Canterbury Played 10, Won 6, Lost 4, Drew 0, Points 122

Auckland 10-5-4-1-115

Otago 10-4-4-2-99

N Districts 10-4-4-2-98

Wellington 10-4-4-2-93

C Districts 10-2-5-3-69