Cricket: Adams on fire

Andre Adams of Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

Andre Adams again proved he is one of the most valuable imports on the New Zealand cricket landscape as he catapulted Auckland to a 72-run win over Wellington in Lincoln today.

The one-time test player for the Black Caps, who now plays as for Nottinghamshire on the County circuit for England in between stints for Auckland, smashed 33 from 27 balls from No 8 before taking 5-29 with the ball as the national domestic one-day competition started today.

Auckland won the toss and decided to bat at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval and captain Gareth Hopkins may have wondered whether he made the right decision when his side were 117-6 in the 28th over.

Rookie Wellington paceman Scott Kuggeleijn tore through the Auckland top order as he claimed 3-54 from 10 overs, but Auckland's tail wagged to an impressive degree.

Not only did Adams manage to find the boundary five times, spin-bowling tail-ender Roneel Hira hammered a swashbuckling 48 from 39 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.

Hira and Adams' heroics propelled Auckland to 249 all-out from 49.4 overs as No 10 Michael Bates added a valuable 17 runs.

Wellington, who have struggled in the 50-over format in recent seasons, began their chase well as Michael Papps (71) and Michael Pollard (22) put on 59 for the first wicket, but once Pollard became the first man to walk back to the pavilion the precession began.

The men from the capital failed to put together another meaningful partnership and only James Franklin (27) provided much work for the scorers and they were bundled out for 177 in the 45th over.

At the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora, it was a day for the debutants as Matt Henry celebrated his first domestic one-day game for Canterbury with 4-25 from eight overs to ensure the Cantabrians beat Central Districts by 66 runs.

The home side batted first and made 265-7 from their 50 overs as another player taking part in their maiden 50-over fixture for Canterbury, Henry Nicholls, stroked an unbeaten 74 from 81 balls.

Nicholls, 20, was the glue in the middle of the Canterbury innings, while Tom Latham (78) and opener George Worker (50) also provided key contributions.

In pursuit of 266 to win, Central lost their openers early before Ben Smith continued the great day for the debutants as he cracked 54 from 93 balls as he and Mathew Sinclair put on 120 for the third wicket.

When Sinclair departed with the score on 144 their chase lost direction and Central were eventually bowled out for 202.

In Dunedin, Otago made it three from three for teams who batted first as they beat Northern Districts by a whopping 111 runs.

Veteran Otago batsman Craig Cumming racked up the highest one-day score of his 18-year first-class career as he blasted 123 from 115 balls, including six sixes at the small University Oval ground.

His knock saw Otago pile on 295-6 from their 50 overs before they rolled Northern over for 184 in 39 overs.

Former international Ian Butler claimed 5-33 for the southerners, while skipper James Marshall top-scored for Northern with 72.