Cricket: Nevin smashes Wellington to top of State Shield table

A cracking century from Chris Nevin propelled Wellington to the top of the State Shield one-day standings with an 81-run win over Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Nevin smacked 133 runs to lift Wellington to a formidable 296 for eight.

That proved too much for Northern Districts, whose response ended at 215 in the 45th over despite a defiant 82 from Daniel Flynn.

Wellington overtake Otago at the top of the table, at the halfway point of the competition.

It was Nevin's fifth century in his 104th one-dayer for Wellington and came after his top-order colleagues left the home side wobbling at 147 for five.

The wicketkeeper/opener then found an ally in allrounder James Franklin, who helped put on 109 for the sixth wicket.

They raised their century partnership in just 51 minutes off 81 balls as Franklin sped to 58 off 46 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.

Nevin, 30, finally departed for 133 off 131 balls, including 13 fours and one six.

The best of the ND bowlers was left-arm spinner Bruce Martin, who took two for 44 off his 10 overs.

Nevin's pivotal role in the win had not ended, as he later took a splendid, diving catch to dismiss Northern Districts opener Alun Evans for 17.

Left-arm swing bowler Franklin then caused the downfall of Nick Horsley for 21, Hamish Marshall departed run out for 13 and James Marshall was undone by Mark Gillespie for 27 as Northern Districts slipped to 104 for four.

There was no way back for the visitors from there, although Flynn took the opportunity to reveal his attacking strokes as he raced to 82 from 77 balls. Ryder ripped through the lower order to bag a career-best haul of four for 39 off 7.4 overs.

- NZPA