Cricket: Northern star Yovich is December's finest

Joseph Yovich

Northern Districts veteran Joseph Yovich has picked up the first Domestic Player of the Month award for his efforts in December.

The allrounder has been one of the platforms of the ND side over the past decade and is enjoying his finest season. In the first three rounds of the State Championship, Yovich scored 279 runs at 69.75, including a maiden first-class century (144) against Central Districts.

He has not restricted his match-turning prowess to the bat either. In the next round Yovich took 7-72 against Auckland and, in the opening State Shield match, snared four wickets against Central Districts.

The recognition has been due reward for the tireless campaigner. He is a rare experienced player in an inexperienced Northern side and is aware of his responsibilities.

"I know I've got to set a benchmark that the young guys can look up to so I did a lot of hard work in the off-season and I'm just glad it's starting to pay off," Yovich said. "I'm not going to get too carried away, though."

Yovich's hundred was a long time in the making. He had reached 99 previously but knows he needs more three-figure scores.

"My conversion rate hasn't been too good," he said. "It's been a bit annoying but hopefully the floodgates will now open."

Northern have turned into an effective one-day unit, although they continue to struggle in the Championship. Yovich said once the likes of Te Ahu Davis, Daniel Flynn and BJ Watling mature, they could be pushing Northern to trophies and themselves to higher honours.

Yovich couldn't prevent ND going down to Otago by one run at Hamilton on Friday night. A duck wouldn't have lightened his mood either, though he said it was "great to have top-class cricket back on the park [Westpac Park] after the dramas of last year".

The signs look good, too, with more than 500 runs scored in the round-three match.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY