A record partnership between Dean Brownlie and Anton Devcich steered the SKYCITY Northern Knights to a crushing eight-wicket Ford Trophy win over a shellshocked Devon Hotel Central Stags unit in Whangarei.
It seemed a fitting way for the hosts to pay tribute to former Northland representative and longtime stalwart of the local club City, Max Joass, who passed away this week. Cobham Oval is City's HQ.
Brownlie and Devcich added an unbroken 198 for the third wicket – a Northern record for the biggest partnership against Central in their one-day competition history.
Brownlie continued his resurgence after an injury layoff by making his fourth List A century, starting slowly after fending off a strong start from the Central attack, but accelerating later on in a perfectly-timed unbeaten innings of 107.
Devcich meanwhile got in behind to finish on 99 not out from 103 balls as both batsmen backed up their form from the previous game at the same ground on Sunday. This time, however, they were rewarded for their effort with the win.
Neither side had it easy early on
The pair had the licence to build their innings after the Knights' bowlers had earlier torn apart the Stags' top order, ultimately rolling them for 224 on the Cobham Oval deck.
Central’s top five can be argued as one of the best in the country – consisting of George Worker, Ben Smith, Jesse Ryder, Will Young and Tom Bruce.
It was a revolving door early doors at Cobham
However, none could reach 25 as the seamers dominated proceedings, after the Knights had been asked to bowl by Central.
The ball swinging early, Jimmy Baker claimed three wickets in his first three overs as the Stags were reduced to 29/4, including a double wicket maiden when he was on a hat-trick.
Brett Hampton took the other with a superb swinging yorker to clean out Ryder’s stumps.
Tony Goodin had a frustrated Young caught behind (he had already been dropped on 13).
Then returning BLACKCAPS legspinner Ish Sodhi showed brilliant skills in the field to cling on to a stunning catch at point as Dane Cleaver fell to the first ball of Jono Boult’s first spell.
Suddenly, the Stags were 91/6 and relying on their BLACKCAPS bowling allrounders to get them to a score of substance.
Fortunately for the visitors, their quick bowlers did just that, Doug Bracewell combining with Ben Wheeler to add 101 for the seventh wicket – a new Stags record against the Knights.
Ben Wheeler hit his straps after a long-awaited return from injury
Both bowlers made their career-best List A score, Bracewell making an excellent 80, including some murderous sixes; and Wheeler 53.
But just as it looked like Central could post a very defendable score after all, Sodhi struck, dismissing both of them.
It was a case of the seamers starting the job and the spinners finishing it for the Knights, as the slow bowlers, Sodhi, Jono Boult and Anton Devcich, took over the attack between them and claimed the last five wickets, reducing the Stags from 191/6 to 224 all out.
Sodhi (2-32 from 10 overs) and Baker (3-30 from seven up front) were the pick of the bunch on paper, while Boult took 2-49 from his 10-over spell.
Joe Carter rewards Bevan Small with a wicket
Although the Knights’ struggles to form a solid opening stand struck once again with Daniel Flynn falling in the first over, and Joe Carter bowled on 11 by an exacting Bevan Small, Brownlie and Devcich stepped up in their stead.
Brownlie weathered an awkward spell as Small tied him up to eventually continue to shine at number three.
Devcich meanwhile picked up where he left off on Sunday to make his fourth 50 of the Ford Trophy season.
Devcich’s knock elevated him atop of the Ford Trophy runscorers list for this season, and he fell agonisingly short of a second one-day hundred.
On 95, and needing two to win, Devcich looked to scoop a short ball from Blair Tickner for six, but didn’t get all of it as the ball crossed the rope for four — making the bearded allrounder the second player in Knights one-day history to finish unbeaten on 99.
However, Devcich assuredly would have been content with the dominant win, which moves the Knights off the bottom of the Ford Trophy ladder.
The Stags remain in second despite the loss, but are now nine points behind runaway leaders Canterbury — who are unbeatean with just two rounds to come.
A bonus point win is worth five points so a tantalising top of the table clash awaits the Stags in Canterbury when they meet Andrew Ellis's unbeaten side at Hagley Oval on Sunday in the penultimate round.
The Knights meanwhile travel to Dunedin for a rematch with the SBS Bank Otago Volts.
