File photo – Ross Taylor hit an explosive 82 in Central Districts’ massive win over Auckland © Getty Images
Ross Taylor and Dane Cleaver put on 111 off just 50 balls to set up a 64-run win for Central Districts against Auckland in New Pylmouth.
Central Districts were put into bat and their in-form opener Mahela Jayawardene struck 31 off 19 after losing his partner George Worker in the very first over. This took them off to a good start and allowed them to keep a healthy run rate. However, they were reduced to 95 for 4 in the 12th over, thanks to Hong Kong international Mark Chapman (2-36) who removed Will Young (30) and Tom Bruce (12) off consecutive overs. This brought Cleaver together with Taylor and the duo stuck into Auckland’s bowling. Cleaver scored 47 (26b, 2×4, 4×6), while Taylor remained unbeaten on 82 (41b, 4×4, 8×6) as Central Districts posted 213.
In response, Auckland were pegged back by medium-pacer Blair Tickner, who took two of the three wickets they lost within the powerplay, before returning in the latter half of the innings to complete with figures of 5 for 19 – his best across any format. Only SM Solia (40 off 21) and Jeet Raval (31 off 18) offered any resistance for Auckland as they folded for 149, to lose by the biggest margin in this season’s Super Smash.
Opener BJ Watling struck an unbeaten 52 to take Northern Districts to their third consecutive Super Smash win, against Canterbury in Mount Maunganui. His 48-ball innings followed a strong Northern Districts bowling performance that saw Canterbury finish for a sluggish score of 127 for 6 in their innings.
Chasing 128, Watling combined with opening partner Dean Brownlie (22-ball 36) before the latter was dismissed with the team’s score at 62. Although a string of wickets – three between overs 10 and 12 – fell thereafter, Watling anchored Northern Districts’ batting, adding another 42 runs for the fifth wicket with Nick Kelly (19-ball 23) to win the game with 13 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.
Earlier in the match, pacers Trent Lawford and Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets each, while Ish Sodhi and Jono Boult spun their way to a scalp each to restrict Canterbury to 127 in their 20 overs. Todd Astle, who came in to bat five-down, remained not out on 37 after Canterbury were struggling at 73 for 5 at one stage.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo