Cricket: Ryder smashes Firebirds to victory

Jesse Ryder of the Firebirds bats against the Northern Knights. Photo / Getty Images

Jesse Ryder again proved his immense talent by bludgeoning 86 as Wellington Firebirds kept alive hopes of reaching the domestic Twenty20 cricket championship final with an upset 43-run win over Northern Knights at Seddon Park in Hamilton tonight.

Ryder was brutal at the top of the Wellington innings, lashing 11 fours and four sixes in his 47-ball knock of 86 which set up the visitors imposing total of 202 for six from their 20 overs.

Ryder, bound to be included in the New Zealand team to play Pakistan after missing the recent one-day series loss in India with a calf injury, dominated a 108-run opening stand with Englishman Luke Wright (27), the pair bringing up the 100 inside eight overs as no bowler was spared.

Grant Elliott's 34 and some late hitting from Chris Nevin and Australian Brett Lee boosted the total over 200, a target Northern Districts were on track to achieve when Brad Wilson (49) and South African Herschelle Gibbs (50) put on 90 runs from 62 balls for the second wicket.

But when they fell in quick succession, the wheels fell off the hosts' challenge. They were all out for 159 with medium pacer Ronald Karaitiana claiming four for 27 from 3.5 overs and left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock typically economical in conceding one for 11 off three overs.

Northern Districts remain in second spot with 18 points, six behind leaders Auckland, while Wellington, who dropped captain Jeetan Patel for tonight's match, have moved up to third on 14 points.

Wellington

J Ryder c McGlashan v Arnel 86
L Wright c Southee b Arnel 27
J Franklin c McGlashan b Devcich 5
G Elliott c Flynn b Aldridge 34
S Rhodes c Aldridge b Southee 15
C Nevin b Southee 15
B Lee not out 11
L Woodcock not out 1

Extras (6b, 1lb, 1w) 8
Total (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 202
Fall: 108, 119, 140, 167, 176, 195.
Bowling: G Aldridge 4-0-46-1, T Southee 4-0-47-2 (1w), B Arnel 4-0-39-2, S Styris 4-0-28-0, K Williamson 1-0-22-0, J Marshall 1-0-2-0, A Devcich 2-0-11-1.

Northern Districts

D Flynn b McKay 12
B Wilson c Ryder b Boam 49
H Gibbs c Wright b Woodcock 50
S Styris c Elliott b Karaitiana 9
A Devcich c Franklin b Karaitiana 2
P McGlashan c Ryder b Karaitiana 27
J Marshall hit wkt b Lee 2
K Williamson run out 3
T Southee b McKay 0
G Aldridge c Rhodes b Karaitiana 2
B Arnel not out 0

Extras (3w) 3
Total (18.5 overs) 159
Fall: 12, 102, 117, 123, 123, 132, 145, 146, 159, 159.
Bowling: A McKay 3-0-38-2 (2w), B Lee 3-0-21-1 (1w), J Franklin 2-0-21-0, R Karaitiana 3.5-0-27-4, G Elliott 1-0-15-0, L Woodcock 3-0-11-1, H Boam 3-0-26-1.
Result: Wellington won by 43 runs.

- NZPA