CRICKET: North's second team open with victory

The Northland Second XI made a promising start to their defence of the Basil McBurney Trophy for 2011-2012, defeating Counties Manukau B in their opening round of the season.

Counties Manukau won the toss and elected to bat first in Sunday's one-day match played at Manurewa's War Memorial Park.

Northland's Matt Taylor and Ryan Smith were the pick of the bowlers for their province as the host side went on to make 231 for a loss of eight wickets.

Kaipara Flats' Taylor grabbed three wickets for 20 runs during his nine overs, while Smith secured another 2/28 in his 10 overs.

Northland went into bat on time after lunch but rain changed their chase target. They needed 224 runs off 47 overs, and they accomplished that knocking Counties Manukau out with 226 runs and five wickets still standing.

Onerahi Central's new recruit Craig Coffey scored 140 not out, forming an 86-run partnership with City's Ian Page (36), who was next best with the bat.

Although it was an encouraging start to the District Association Second XI competition, which Northland has won for the last two seasons, coach Stephen Knox said his troops could have had Counties out earlier, after claiming early wickets.

"We had them at 95 for six and had a good chance to bowl them all out, but their lower order batted well. The boys were reasonably happy with the effort. It was a comprehensive win," Knox said.

The development side next line up against Waikato Valley at Whangarei's Cobham Oval on November 20.

Knox is a professional player-coach, who runs a coaching business in Edinburgh. The 37-year-old Englishman spent a season playing for Northland in 2006-07, following several Northern Hemisphere winters playing and coaching at St Albans Club in Christchurch, where he met Northland coach Stephen Cunis.

"I was desperate to play more cricket this year as the summer in Scotland was awful ... Stephen [Cunis] and I were at St Albans together and became good mates, and I got talking to him recently. He spoke with Gary Bell, which is how I ended back here in Northland," he said.

Knox is delighted to be back in Northland, coaching the development team and lining up for Kamo as club professional.

"Kamo have struggled over the last few seasons but it's a good young side who I think just need a bit of experience, as well as some belief in themselves."

Knox has also been named to play for Northland's First XI side, to contest the Brian Dunning Tournament in Taupo this weekend.

Captained by John Child, the team is: C Andrews, C Coffey, K Forde, B Hyde, B Kneebone (keeper), S Knox, C McGoldrick, I Page, C Page, R Smith, M Taylor.