Cricket: Superior ND win trophy in style

ND skipper James Marshall. Photo / Getty Images

Two young men, one already in the New Zealand team, the other surely destined to make the step up soon, carried Northern Districts to a 21-run victory and retain the national one-day title at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

BJ Watling's terrific 145 not out laid out a challenging assignment for Auckland by guiding ND to a formidable 304 for three.

Kane Williamson followed his run-a-ball 69 by taking five for 51 with his off spin as Auckland, dismissed for 283, came second for the second time in a final in less than a month.

Central Districts thumped them in the HRV Cup Twenty20 final and, with their defence of the Plunket Shield all but gone - bottom of the table and pointless at the halfway stage - they seem certain to finish the season trophyless.

The better side won yesterday, and Auckland would not quibble with that.

Playing on the same pitch on which they dismissed ND for just 104 a week ago, they sent ND in and this time it didn't work.

While Watling found his rhythm early on, Daniel Flynn gave ND the perfect start, his 59 from as many balls, characterised by decisive, crisp driving which brought a flood of early boundaries, putting the early momentum into the innings.

Once Watling got his bearings, with the 19-year-old Williamson for company, the runs rattled along.

Auckland did peg them back for a time but the pitch was good, the outfield quick and the blue dam was never going to hold long.

The pair's 163-run stand is an ND record against Auckland and took only 148 balls.

Watling's century was his fifth one-day ton for ND, a record for the province, and full of smart running, shots all round the park. It didn't come easily early, but he bided his time and cashed in.

Williamson merely carried on a spectacular run of form. His last eight innings have produced 597 runs at a whopping 99.5 average.

Auckland's bowling lacked direction. Only Scott Styris conceded less than six an over.

For most of their innings, Auckland were behind the play. ND's ground fielding was slick and the task grew as the required run rate eventually got up to beyond 10 an over.

Tim McIntosh made a half century, so did Ravi Bopara, but his dismissal was crucial. In and set on 62, to his horror he picked out the fielder at long on with precision.

Gareth Hopkins and Lou Vincent hit a rapid 54, before Hopkins was run out by a bullet return to the far end from long on by Anton Devcich.

When 101 were required from the last 10 overs it looked like curtains, but Colin de Grandhomme had other ideas. His 36 off 16 balls briefly reawakened the possibility of snatching the game from ND.

So ND skipper James Marshall, in his 100th game, again lifted the trophy.

"The boys work hard during the winter and the rewards are coming during the summer," Watling said.

"We're a good allround team. The bowlers are doing their job, the batsmen putting runs on the board and our fielding might save you 15 runs to win a game.

" It's a combination of all three and a good balance."

It sounds like ND have the one-day recipe about right.