KEY POINTS:
Opener BJ Watling raced to an unbeaten 113 as Northern Districts scored a convincing win over Auckland at Eden Park yesterday to assure themselves of home final in the State Shield 50-over competition.
Auckland lurched from a disastrous start to reach 259, largely thanks to a maiden one-day century from Reece Young.
But Northern were always well ahead of the required run rate and reached 263 for three with more than five overs to spare. It was their seventh win of the competition and moves them five points clear of Otago with a home game against Canterbury on Sunday remaining.
The 23-year-old Watling has been the form player in competition this season with more than 400 runs and an average in the 70s.
Yesterday Watling and Hamish Marshall put on 57 for the first wicket and the total was 97 when Michael Parlane was caught off spinner Rob Nicol for 32. The game was won by a 155-run partnership off 159 balls between Watling and James Marshall, who was third out for 79.
Watling brought up his 100, his fourth in the State Shield, with a six and four off Chris Martin and he had 11 fours and a six in his 125-ball innings.
Northern, who put Auckland in, made a dream start with two perfect outswingers from paceman Tim Southee accounting for Martin Guptill and Richard Jones in his second over with only five runs on the board.
Young came in to join Tim McIntosh, who made 30, and they steadied the innings with a partnership of 79. There were also useful contributions from Gareth Hopkins (29) and Rob Nicol (34) but the mainstay was Young.
After being displaced as wicketkeeper by Hopkins he has fought back from a leg injury that sidelined him last season to earn a place as a batsman. When he was eighth out at 253 he had scored 119 off 134 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.
Southee finished with three wickets for 46. Brad Scott and Brent Arnel also had three-wicket bags. Young offspinner Kane Williamson didn't take a wicket but his 10 overs cost only 39 runs and he stifled Auckland's momentum.
Auckland cannot reach the playoffs. Their last game is against Central Districts in New Plymouth on Sunday.
Reigning State Shield champions Otago showed their multiple strengths when beating Central Districts by 63 runs in New Plymouth.
Otago ensured themselves a semifinal spot by vaulting into second place behind Northern Districts ahead of their last round robin game against Wellington in Invercargill.
They were in command almost from the outset at Pukekura Park after New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum hit 82 before English import Dimitri Mascarenhas clouted 53 not out off just 27 deliveries to propel Otago to a vibrant 311 for eight in their 50 overs.
Central Districts were dismissed for 248 as the home side suffered their fourth successive defeat.
