Ford Trophy Face-Off: Canterbury vs Wellington Fantasy Preview & Top Picks

The Ford Trophy action heads to the scenic Hagley Oval in Christchurch as a dominant Canterbury side hosts Wellington. Canterbury has been absolutely ruthless lately, winning their last five matches on the trot. Wellington, however, is coming off a solid win and holds a slight edge in the historical Head to-Head record (15 wins to 13). This sets up a fascinating contest for fantasy cricket fans looking to climb the leaderboards.

Match Details

• Match: Canterbury vs Wellington (The Ford Trophy)
• Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
• Date & Time: 13 Feb 2026, 10:30 AM Local Time

Weather & Pitch Report

Weather Update: February in Christchurch offers pleasant late summer conditions. Expect temperatures around 18-22°C with partly cloudy skies. The humidity levels should be moderate, and while there is always a slight breeze at Hagley, rain is unlikely to interrupt the game significantly.

Pitch Analysis: Hagley Oval is known for offering good bounce and carry. The stats clearly favor the quicks here. In the last 5 matches, pacers have snapped up 43 wickets compared to just 14 by spinners. The average score is 249, suggesting a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batters who can handle the early seam movement will find value for their shots later in the innings.

Team News & Probable Playing XI

Canterbury (CTB): Canterbury is fielding a star studded lineup. Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls are scoring runs for fun, while their pace attack led by Fraser Sheat and Michael Rae is utilizing the conditions perfectly.

• Probable XI: Chad Bowes, Rhys Mariu, Tom Latham (wk), Matthew Boyle, Mitchell Hay, Cole McConchie, Leo Carter, LLB Harper, Sean Davey, Fraser Sheat, Michael Rae.

Wellington (WF): Wellington has shown resilience. James Hartshorn has been a revelation with the ball, and the experience of Tom Blundell and Nick Kelly in the middle order is vital for their success.

• Probable XI: Jesse Tashkoff, Nick Greenwood, Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly, Muhammad Abbas, Tom Blundell (wk), Nathan Smith, Oscar Jackson, Peter Younghusband, James Hartshorn, Liam Dudding.

Key Players to Watch

Tom Latham (CTB): Latham is in monster form, averaging 140 fantasy points in the series. He smashed 103 runs in the last game and is a safe captaincy choice for any league.

Henry Nicholls (CTB): With 428 runs in the series and a recent knock of 122, Nicholls is the backbone of Canterbury's batting. He is a must have in your fantasy contests.

James Hartshorn (WF): The leading wicket taker for Wellington with 16 scalps in the series. On a pacer friendly Hagley Oval deck, he is a massive threat.

Jesse Tashkoff (WF): A fantastic differential pick. He opens the batting and bowls left arm spin, giving you points from both departments. He has 12 wickets and 119 runs in the series so far.

Captaincy & Vice Captaincy Picks

• Safe Options: Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, James Hartshorn
• Differential Picks: Jesse Tashkoff, Fraser Sheat, Tim Robinson

Fantasy Strategy for Hagley Oval

1. Back the Pacers: With 43 wickets falling to pace recently, load your bowling attack with seamers like Fraser Sheat, Michael Rae, and James Hartshorn.
2. Top Order Quality: The new ball might swing, but class players like Latham and Blundell have the technique to survive and score big.
3. Avoid Too Many Spinners: Unless they are all rounders like Tashkoff or McConchie who bat up the order, pure spinners might struggle to find grip here.

Canterbury is the favorite on paper due to their winning streak, but Wellington's bowlers have the skill to exploit the Hagley Oval conditions. Good luck with your team selection!