Cricket: Big partnership gets ND home

Northern Districts gave themselves a chance of defending their national one-day cricket title when they beat Central Districts by 83 runs in yesterday's major semifinal at Cobham Park in Whangarei.

Northern Districts lost by eight wickets in last week's preliminary semifinals, but rebounded from their limp batting effort against Auckland to post 284 for six in their 50 overs after Central asked them to bat.

ND will face Auckland in the final at Colin Maiden Park on Sunday.

Central, without Jacob Oram, who was nursing an injury, crumbled under the pressure of needing more than 5.68 runs an over and were dismissed for 201 in 43.5 overs.

Daniel Flynn and Kane Williamson were Northern's mainstays, posting 81 and 84 respectively. They put on 112 for the second wicket after Michael Parlane was first to go, run out when he was on 27.

With Seth Rance taking three for 63, Central fought back to take the next three wickets for 56 runs but James Marshall, 25, and Peter McGlashan, with a breezy unbeaten 30 off 21 balls, helped Northern to their score in the final seven overs.

Openers Jamie How and George Worker gave Central a good start, putting on 72 for the first wicket.

Worker departed for 21 after edging a Joseph Yovich delivery to McGlashan in the slips.

When How was dismissed for 51 one over later by Brad Scott, Central were in trouble at 77 for two.

Mathew Sinclair scored 54 from 69 balls in a 94-minute stay but lacked support as Central went from 103 for three in the 24th over to 136 for six by the 34th.

With Sinclair's departure in the 41st over resistance evaporated, the last three wickets falling for 21 runs.

Scott and Anton Devcich were the best of the Northern bowlers, taking three wickets each.

- NZPA