Cricket: ND confident group B challenge can be met

Kane Williamson starred again for the Knights, scoring 53 off just 36 balls. Photo / Getty.

Northern Districts are on to their second objective at the Champions League after securing a place in the tournament proper in India yesterday.

Having completed a three-from-three sweep in the qualifying tournament with an impressive six-wicket win over Indian Premier League side - and defending champions - the Mumbai Indians, ND can now set their sights on becoming New Zealand's first representative to reach the semifinals.

They start the group B programme against South African side the Cape Cobras in Raipur, where the qualifying event was staged, early on Saturday (NZT). The Cobras squad includes master batsman Hashim Amla, and quality internationals in Vernon Philander and J-P Duminy, along with an experienced core of players.

ND won't fear any of the challenges ahead, after the way they dispatched their first three opponents.

"We're three from three against quality teams," captain Daniel Flynn said yesterday. "We know we've got a lot of hard work ahead but we're playing some good cricket. We are well aware that T20 can be quite fickle. At the moment the ball is in our court and hopefully we can continue to play a good brand of cricket."

New ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult, for the second consecutive game, were strong in the early overs to help restrict Mumbai to 132 for nine. Kane Williamson and Anton Devcich put on 83 in 9.4 overs to lay a platform for victory. Williamson's 53 off 36 balls was his second half century in three games.

"It was a hell of a performance by the boys," former international Flynn said.

He added the ND team were enjoying the Raipur ground, where around 45,000 people turned up on one day during the qualifying event.

"The conditions seem to suit us," he said. "There's a little bit there for the seamers and a little bit for the spinners, but the way our guys have played the spin throughout the qualifying games has been a pretty important part to getting where we are."

Not having to leave Raipur for another two games won't hurt.

Continuity, and strong performances from senior players have made ND a decent prospect to make the last four.

ND's final group game, against Barbados Tridents, will be the final pool game, leaving them knowing exactly what is needed to make the semifinals.

The top two from each group make the semifinals in Hyderabad early next month, with the final in Bangalore on October 5 (NZT).

What Lies Ahead
• Northern Districts start their group B games against South Africa's Cape Cobras in Raipur early on Saturday (NZT)
• They face the Hobart Hurricanes, also in Raipur, early next Wednesday, followed by the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on September 27 and finish with the Barbados Tridents in Bangalore on October 1.