Cricket: Knights jump Central

Northern Districts leapfrogged Central Districts to the top of the State Shield one-day cricket competition table after a comprehensive victory over Otago in Gisborne yesterday.

The Knights paced themselves well and overhauled Otago's 183 for seven just three balls into the 40th over to bank vital points. The Knights won with eight wickets in hand.

Otago began disastrously, losing five wickets for just 57 runs, with their only productive partnership of the innings for the eighth wicket between Nathan McCullum and Jordan Sheed.

McCullum joined Sheed in the 39th over with the score at 106 for seven.

With some solid batting, particularly from McCullum, the unbeaten partnership yielded 77 runs.

McCullum used his feet well and hit the ball hard for one six and six fours in his innings of 52 not out. Sheed was unbeaten on 32.

However, on a slowish pitch the Knights accuracy tied up the batsmen and medium-pacers Darryl Tuffey, Graeme Aldridge and Scott Styris were difficult to score from.

The Northern Knights' batsmen maintained the momentum for the start and opener Nick Horsley was in good touch.

The left-hander pulled the ball strongly and drove sweetly and his 77 runs set up his side's victory.

Alun Evans batted solidly and glued the innings together with an unbeaten 58.

Styris had a gem of an innings, scoring 30 from 31 balls.

Northern Knights captain James Marshall was thrilled with his team's win.

"The Poverty Bay Cricket Association had little notice to get ready for the one-day games. The pitch played very well in the four-day game [there] but to get up and be ready for the two one-dayers was fantastic," he said.

- NZPA