Northern Districts have bounced back from a hefty defeat to record an emphatic win of their own, easing to a nine-wicket win over Canterbury.
How it happened
• Canterbury won the toss and decided to bat on a pitch which wasn’t doing much throughout the day. Batsman Henry Chamberlain will have to wait for his debut after being named 12th man, but Northern Districts handed a first domestic cap to former New Zealand Under-19s bowler Brett Randell.
Welcome to domestic cricket Brett Randell! Debut in all forms for @ndcricket and he has a wicket. Card | https://t.co/6mMDYGhsUh #fordtrophy pic.twitter.com/Z7Sq6bHJo5
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 17, 2017
• Canterbury's decision to bat looked sound to begin with. Jack Boyle and Peter Fulton had the visitors ticking along at 80/2 after 16 overs, and had seen off the opening spell of the dangerous Scott Kuggeleijn. However, what was to follow was the turning point in the game.
• Fulton played a wafting shot outside off to Brett Hampton, and departed for 26, allowing ND to bring in young off-spinner Freddy Walker in relatively risk-free conditions. Without the threat of Fulton playing aggressively, Walker was able to bowl a smart, restricting line to the fresh batsman, and at the other end Hampton continued to strike.
• He claimed the key wicket of Todd Astle, and then bowled Cameron Fletcher to reduce Canterbury to 96/5. At the other end, Randell was having an excellent debut, bowling a good line and length and picking up consistent scalps in the middle order.
4 on @ndcricket debut for Randell but this from Hampton sums up @CanterburyCrick's batting day. Card | https://t.co/6mMDYGhsUh #fordtrophy pic.twitter.com/QqYI0SFTUb
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 18, 2017
• Kuggeleijn returned and took the big wicket of the resolute Boyle (41 from 70), and suddenly Canterbury had capitulated to 135 all out, on a rather docile pitch.
• The lack of venom in the pitch was quickly proven when ND came out to start their second innings, before lunch, having bowled Canterbury out in just 32 overs. Joe Carter and Dean Brownlie were hardly troubled as they sauntered along to 66/0 when lunch was called.
• Carter, who had been making runs for ND A but struggling for form at the top level, made his first one-day half century as he racked up 64, while Brownlie continued his impressive season with an unbeaten 55. Tim Seifert joined the skipper for the final rights, and the inexperienced ND squad picked up a comprehensive bonus point victory with three hours to spare.
Scorecard
ND will remain at Seddon Park for their clash against the Stags on Sunday, while Canterbury travels to Dunedin to take on the Otago Volts. All matches start at 11am.
