Cricket: ND confident for State Shield final

Daniel Vettori of Northern Districts hitting a shot off his pads yesterday. Picture / Fotopress

Northern Districts are confident they have the team to lift the silverware in the one-day State Shield final against Central Districts on Saturday.

Northern comfortably disposed of Canterbury yesterday in the semifinal at Eden Park's outer oval, despite the southerners setting an imposing 261 for eight in 50 overs.

Skipper Daniel Vettori made 138 from 111 balls and had superb support from James Marshall with 95 not out as Northern Districts passed Canterbury's total at a canter, with seven wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare.

The victory follows their crushing 112-run win over Auckland on Wednesday and an unlikely final-ball victory over Wellington in Taupo last Friday -- all contributing to a team flush with self-belief.

"We travel to New Plymouth tomorrow to get ready for the final," Vettori said yesterday. "We've got all the confidence in the world we can beat CD."

Canterbury captain Craig McMillan showed his class with a chanceless century to provide the backbone of the southerners' innings, making 124 from 109 balls.

Along with Neil Broom, who made 27 not out -- the second highest score for Canterbury -- he helped Canterbury to pile on the runs in the final overs.

"We would have liked to get them under 250," Vettori said.

"But we struggled with the fifth bowler, not having Scott Styris, but we always had in mind that we could chase down 260."

Early on, Vettori almost played a lone hand -- at one stage he had scored 61 of a total of 79 for two. But James Marshall increased in fluency with some fine shots in his 119-ball innings.

He was robbed of the chance for a six to reach his second one-day century when his brother Hamish finished the game with a boundary.

"Hamish and I talked about it but I said let's just finish the game," James said.

"I can't hit sixes. My shoulders aren't big enough."

Marshall said after a one-day season in which they have lost just two games -- both against Central Districts -- the team now believed they could beat anyone.

It is a far cry from last year when they notched up just one win in the State Shield.

"The players are no different but they have individually found their game," he said.

"We can chase and defend. We're confident of our bowling attack and our batting."

- NZPA