All-round form gives Knights final surge

Northern Knights proved they have what it takes to defend their one-day title this season after brushing aside the challenge of the Central Stags in their semifinal at Cobham Oval yesterday.
The Knights won by 83 runs after posting 284/6 in the first innings and then dismissing the Stags for 201 in the 44th over with a near-faultless display in the field.
The win went a long way to banishing the memory of Saturday's eight-wicket defeat by the Auckland Aces - who they will meet again in this Sunday's  final at Colin Maiden Park.
"This was a great turnaround, we did a great deal of soul searching and today's result means the loss the other day can be seen as a bit of a blip on our radar," Knights skipper James  Marshall said.
Even a controversial run-out of top scorer Kane Williamson failed to divert the focus of the side, the captain said.
"There was a fair bit going on out there and Howser [George Worker] made the decision and he has to live with it. We didn't want to get caught up in it - it is a rule in the game - so Kane was out but it is the first time I've ever seen anyone out like that."
Williamson looked set for another century when Worker halted his bowling delivery in the 41st over to remove the bales at the bowlers end, catching Williamson out of his crease. The spectators were not amused but the dismissal stood and if the Stags had won, Marshall's response may not have been so even tempered.
Williamson scored 84 at No3 but his partnership of 112 with unwanted Black Cap Daniel Flynn, who compiled an equally significant 81, was the catalyst for the victory.
"It's important in one-day cricket that you do get  those 100 partnerships, especially at the top [of the order], because it sets you up to have a bit of a hit at the end," Marshall said.
To help the Knights' cause, the Stags were mediocre  in the field and after Flynn was dismissed and Williamson's controversial run out, the rest of the Knights batsmen were able to maintain and even improve on the scoring rate set by the top order.
Marshall scored at more than a run a ball to score 25, while Peter MacGlashan scored 31 off 21 balls including two massive sixes at the end of the innings.
If the batting was good, the bowling was even better. Brent Arnel and Graeme Aldridge were tight with the new ball, while Bradley Scott and Joe Yovich were also hard to get away. The Knight's spin attack continued to keep the pressure on during the middle of the innings, with Anton Devcich exceptional, finishing with the great figures of 3/25 off 8.5 overs.
The way they achieved the result has allowed the Knights to have confidence in their chances against the Aces on Sunday.
"There will be no ifs or buts at the end of the game, you just have to have a good crack at it and really go hard to win that title," he concluded.
New Zealand suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in  yesterday's fourth women's one-day cricket international match in Melbourne, and now trail 0-4 in the eight-match Rose Bowl Trophy series.
Having lost the first three matches by 115 runs, by four wickets and by 102 runs, the White Ferns' fragile batting was once again exposed as they were dismissed for a paltry 162 in 48.3 overs at the Junction Oval ground.
Australian bowler Ellyse Perry was the chief destroyer, taking five for 31.
 The fifth and final one-day match will be played today at the same venue before the series moves to Hobart for three Twenty20 matches.