CS vs NB Dream11 Prediction – 5th Match, The Ford Trophy 2025‑26
The 5th fixture of the domestic one‑day tournament The Ford Trophy 2025‑26 features Central Districts (CS) versus Northern Districts (NB) at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth on 30 October 2025, with a start time around 3:00 AM IST (local time in New Zealand: morning).
Central Districts will leverage home‑venue familiarity and recent good form in one‑day matches. Northern Districts, meanwhile, bring a balanced side of experienced campaigners and emerging talent. The clash promises tactical bowling and potentially tricky batting conditions early in the day.
Match Details
- Date: Thursday, 30 October 2025
- Venue: Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
- Time: Approx. 3:00 AM IST (morning in NZ)
- Format: List‑A One Day (The Ford Trophy)
- Match Number: 5th Match of the tournament group stage
Team Previews
Central Districts (CS)
Central Districts feature a strong batting core led by players such as Josh Clarkson and Tom Bruce, while their bowling attack includes experienced bowlers like Blair Tickner and Ajaz Patel.
On home soil, they will aim to exploit morning seam or swing if present and build a platform through the top order. Their fielding standards and recent momentum in the one‑day format should help them challenge Northern Districts.
Northern Districts (NB)
Northern Districts bring in versatile players such as Joe Carter and Scott Kuggeleijn, offering options across batting and bowling.
They will look to play disciplined cricket, perhaps relying on seasoned campaigners to anchor the innings and bowling units to knock over CS early. Their success may depend on adapting quickly to pitch and conditions morning in New Plymouth.
Probable XIs
Central Districts (CS) – Probable XI
- Tom Bruce
- William Clark
- Josh Clarkson
- Brad Schmulian
- Jayden Lennox
- Dean Foxcroft
- Dane Cleaver
- Blair Tickner
- Ajaz Patel
- Raymond Toole
- Toby Findlay
(Based on latest squad list).
Northern Districts (NB) – Probable XI
- Joe Carter
- Ben Pomare
- Katene Clarke
- Fergus Lellman
- Kyle Jamieson* (if available) / Scott Kuggeleijn
- Joshua Brown
- Brett Hampton
- Zak Gibson
- Kristian Clarke
- Tim Pringle
- Xavier Bell
(Assumed from squad lists; final XI may differ.)
Top Fantasy Picks
- Josh Clarkson (CS): A reliable top‑order batter with one‑day form; high fantasy upside.
- Tom Bruce (CS): Aggressive batsman who can accelerate; useful in fantasy lineups.
- Ajaz Patel (CS): Spin option; can bowl economical spells and take wickets.
- Joe Carter (NB): Young bat with impact potential; good value pick.
- Scott Kuggeleijn (NB): Experienced pace bowler; may pick early wickets and control death overs.
- Blair Tickner (CS): Right‑arm pace with ability to extract movement; valuable fantasy asset.
- Katene Clarke (NB): Emerging all‑rounder; differential pick for fantasy users.
- Fergus Lellman (NB): Top‑order batsman; could deliver big innings if set.
Captain & Vice‑Captain Choices
- Captain (2× points): Josh Clarkson or Joe Carter
- Vice‑Captain (1.5× points): Ajaz Patel or Scott Kuggeleijn
Match Prediction
Considering conditions early in the morning at New Plymouth, the pitch may offer assistance to seam/bowlers especially in the first 10‑15 overs. Central Districts’ home familiarity gives them a slight edge, but Northern Districts’ versatility makes them a strong challenger. Prediction: Central Districts to win this match by a margin of 3‑5 wickets when chasing, or by 20‑30 runs if batting first.
Fantasy Tips
- Confirm toss and decide whether to pick more batters (if chasing) or bowlers (if bowling first).
- Prioritise all‑rounders and players who bowl 8‑10 overs or bat in the top 5 for maximum fantasy value.
- Morning start means early overs may be key; bowlers who bowl first 10 overs can gain bonus points.
- Avoid stacking too many bowlers from one side; spread picks across both teams for risk balance.
- Monitor final playing XIs around 30 minutes before match start to adjust your team accordingly.
Conclusion
This 5th match of The Ford Trophy between Central Districts and Northern Districts offers a compelling one‑day encounter with fantasy implications. For Dream11 users, key players like Josh Clarkson, Joe Carter, Ajaz Patel and Scott Kuggeleijn stand out for high impact. Crafting a balanced team with a blend of safe top‑order batters and wicket‑taking bowlers will be critical. Based on conditions and squads, backing Central Districts with proper support picks appears a sensible strategy for this match day.
