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The State Wellington Firebirds have beaten the State Canterbury Wizards by six wickets in the State Twenty20 match at QEII Park in Canterbury.
The Wizards could only manage a below par 126 after losing the toss and batting first with the Firebirds chasing down the total with nearly two overs to spare.
Canterbury made a steady start putting on 61 for the first wicket but the loss of Michael Papps for 46 in the 14th over sparked a collapse that saw them lose five wickets in three overs to be 104 for 6.
Left arm spinner Luke Woodcock was the pick of the Wellington attack taking three for 28 with Mark Houghton taking two for 25.
Wellington had a horror start to their chase with Michael Davidson dismissing Stephen Fleming and Chris Nevin in the second over.
The loss of the early wickets didn’t hold back Matthew Bell as he struck 46 off 28 including six fours and a six.
Jeremy Dean came in and hit a run-a-ball 26 with the in-form James Franklin making 28 of 20 to seal the win.
Davidson ended with two for 28 but it was pace man Shane Bond who best of the Wizards attack with one for 11 off four.
The result puts the Wellington Firebirds among the leaders on 12 points with Canterbury Wizards in fourth eight points.
