Cricket: Northern Districts looking for top-order revival

Northern Districts reach a crucial point in their State Shield campaign when they play Wellington in a day-night match in Hamilton today.

They started the season usefully enough, but had their second successive loss when they went down by 75 runs to Otago in Rotorua on Sunday.

Northern Districts' top order batsmen again failed to give their team's chase for a demanding 250 for victory any impetus.

A change in personnel didn't work.

Former Central Districts opening batsman David Kelly made a duck, and other failures at the start of the innings ensured a continuation of the side's top-order slump.

ND are fourth on the table and must stay in touch with the early leaders, Otago and Wellington.

They have passed 200 only once in this season's shield matches, and the batting has been carried chiefly by the middle order, with allrounders Joseph Yovich and Matthew Hart at the forefront.

Yovich top scored for the second time in four matches with 38, and Hart has made two half-centuries this season.

Former test opener Matt Horne faces a fitness test this morning as Auckland consider changes to the side which had CD on the ropes before the rain came at Eden Park on Sunday.

Auckland have stuck with the same XI, with Horne and wicketkeeper Reece Young making the 13. They need to start winning soon to stay in the frame for a place in the top three and the semifinals.

In the other game, Canterbury - winless and bottom of the table but with international Craig McMillan back in search of some pre-World Cup form - meet Central Districts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

* Standings: Otago and Wellington 14, Central Districts 11, Northern Districts 9, Auckland 6, Canterbury 0.

- NZPA