KEY POINTS:
Michael Parlane's contribution to Wellington's win was the highlight of a rain-affected day two at the national Twenty20 cricket tournament in Invercargill.
Parlane struck 82 off just 46 balls to give the Wellington Firebirds a 27-run win over Northern Districts using the Duckworth-Lewis system. The skipper was supported by Chris Nevin (29), Neal Parlane (27) and Matthew Bell (26), as Wellington posted 185 for six, batting first at Southland Boys' High School.
Northern's reply was cut short after 14 overs, having made 113 for seven. Scott Rasmussen took three wickets for 26 runs.
At Queen's Park, Geoff Barnett made 64 and Lance Hamilton captured three for 21 as Central Districts beat Auckland by 19 runs, again after Duckworth-Lewis calculations.
Central restricted Auckland to 140 for seven, stumbling after three wickets in consecutive balls with the score on 129.
Hamilton took two of those, ending with figures of 3-21 off four overs. Brendon Diamanti (2-25) took the third. After Ewen Thompson was claimed first ball by Andre Adams, who ended with 2-14, Barnett moved Central ahead, making his half-century from 22 deliveries.
His removal was the first of two in as many balls by Paul Hitchcock but Central's scoring rate - 99 for five in 11 overs - was quick enough to decide matters once play was abandoned.
Wellington's game against Canterbury and Central's against Otago were washed out. That leaves Canterbury and Otago the likely teams to be eliminated before the semifinals, after their defeats on Friday.
Results: Auckland 140-7 (20 overs, R Nicol 39, P Hitchcock 32, A Adams 30; L Hamilton 3-21, B Diamanti 2-25) Central 99-5 (11 overs, G Barnett 64; P Hitchcock 3-20, A Adams 2-14). CD won by 19 runs (Duckworth-Lewis). Wellington 185-6 (20 overs, M Parlane 82, C Nevin 29, N Parlane 27, M Bell 26) Northern Districts 113-7 (14 overs, D Flynn 22, S Rasmussen 3-26). Wellington won by 27 runs (Duckworth-Lewis).
- NZPA
