SKYCITY Northern Knights 241-9 (Brad Wilson 89, Joe Carter 47, Cole McConchie 3-43) beat the Canterbury Wizards 226 all out after 48.2 overs (Dean Brownlie 87, Tom Latham 49, Scott Kuggeleijn 4-39) by 15 runs
The SKYCITY Northern Knights now stand alone at the top of the Ford Trophy points table after beating the Canterbury Wizards by 15 runs in a thrilling match at Seddon Park this afternoon.
In response to the Knights first innings total of 241 for nine, the Wizards were cruising at 200 for four with eight overs remaining. The host side’s bowlers then turned it on, with Graeme Aldridge and Scott Kuggeleijn running through the Wizards lower-order to secure the win and go four points clear.
Having opted to bat, opener Brad Wilson anchored the Knights innings with 89 from 133 balls. He and Joe Carter (47) put on 96 for the second wicket, before the stand was broken in the 19th over with the Knights one shy of 100.
A number of cameos kept the Knights score ticking along, but the loss of regular wickets didn’t allow for a big finish. Rob Nicol (3-46) and Cole McConchie (3-43) were the pick of the Wizards bowlers.
The visitors looked on track for the majority of their innings, with a 117 run partnership between Tom Latham (49) and Dean Brownlie (87) taking the Wizards past 100 inside 20 overs. Henry Nicholls maintained their momentum with 45, but an extraordinary spell of bowling from Kuggeleijn and Aldridge swung things back in the Knights favour.
The last six wickets fell for just 18 runs, with Kuggeleijn collecting figures of four for 39 from nine overs, while Aldridge had two for 29 from 8.2 overs.
