CRICKET - We lacked killer instinct, says ND captain

The lack of a killer instinct cost Northern Districts a win over Auckland in their four-day match at Cobham Oval, their captain James Marshall believes.
ND started the day at 113/3, chasing 268 for the win, but came up 23 runs short and were all out in the 80th over yesterday.
"We bowled well, but only in patches and we let them off the hook with poor dismissals," Marshall said.
"In a way we beat ourselves more than Auckland beat us - we got ourselves in a winning position but we failed to take it and that's frustrating."
He didn't spare himself nor his twin Hamish from criticism. Marshall was dismissed with an over to play on Sunday and Hamish was dismissed without adding to his overnight score in the first over of the day.
"Both those dismissals were key to the game, both of us were in and had the opportunity to kill the game off and by taking poor options, Auckland got back in the game."
Hamish Marshall's dismissal brought the first innings top-scorer to the wicket but this time Michael Parlane didn't hang around - he was out for eight, bringing Joey Yovich to the wicket a lot earlier than he had probably expected.
Night watchman Bradley Scott was the next to go with a patiently compiled 27 from 81 balls, but when Graeme Aldridge was trapped lbw by Colin de Grandhomme just before lunch, the equation became a little tougher for ND.
De Grandhomme struck twice more to remove debutant Jono Boult (5) and Te Ahu Davis, who briefly gave the ND fans something to cheer about with a quick fire 30, including five boundaries.
When Davis went Yovich was almost out of partners and in frustration began to hit out. He perished for 41 in the first over after the new ball was introduced, caught by former teammate Scott Styris off the bowling of Darryl Tuffey for 41.
Although he couldn't steer ND to victory, Yovich did pass another personal milestone during the game. The City all-rounder moved into second place on the list of first class wicket takers for Northern Districts with two wickets in the first innings, moving him past his current coach Grant Bradburn.
Marshall said the failure to close out games had been a feature of ND's State Championship season to date.
"We've played some quality cricket but we haven't been able to sustain it for long periods under pressure," Marshall said.
The captain leaves the side for their next game to play in the one-day series against New Zealand A, but he is confident that the troops can mount a successful challenge in their next match against Canterbury starting on Monday - but only if they take their chances.