Canterbury and Otago win one apiece
Auckland and Wellington won both of their Twenty20 matches to collect the full six points available on the penultimate day of the National Provincial A tournament in Lincoln. They are now the only two teams capable of winning the competition with only one round to play and a maximum of three points on offer. Auckland are top with 20 points just ahead of Wellington who have 19 with third placed Northern Districts a further three points adrift on 16.
Auckland twice chased won sizable totals with their opening combination of Tim McIntosh and Neal Parlane proving the difference on both occasions. The pair put on 104 in their first match against Otago to ensure their team reached 185 for seven off 19.5 overs before setting a solid platform of 51 against Canterbury to help them hit 168 for four in 19.3 overs. In two innings McIntosh struck 95 and Parlane a hefty 107 while Bhupinder Singh took three wickers and was Auckland’s the most economical bowler across both matches.
Wellington scraped past Central Districts by two wickets and were then comfortable 22 run winners over Northern Districts today. Wellington’s bowling attack kept Central to 126 for seven before a team effort with the bat saw them reply with 128 for eight. Against Northern, Josh Brodie smashed 73 and Stephen Murdoch cracked an unbeaten 55, launching them through to 181 for two before Scott Kuggeleijn snared five for 26 to set up an easy victory.
Canterbury made a positive start to the day, beating Northern Districts by eight wickets but a slow over rate meant they were docked half a point. Three wickets from Matt McEwan helped restrict Northern to 104 for seven while Keryn Ambler’s 65 not out help made light work of the run chase as they hit 108 for two in 14.2 overs.
Otago were the other team to record a win, beating Central Districts by seven wickets in their second match of the day. Sam Wells picked up three wickets and conceded just 20 runs as Otago limited Central to 132 for eight. Hamish Rutherford then lashed 52, as Otago cruised to 133 for three in 16.3 overs.
Points
Auckland – 20
Wellington – 19
Northern Districts – 16
Otago – 13
Canterbury – 12.5*
Central Districts – 6
* Canterbury lost half a point for a slow over-rate in their Twenty20 match against Northern Districts.
