Easy wins for Otago, Northern Districts

Northern Districts opener Anton Devcich's unbeaten 90 paved the way for the team's 25-run win against Central Districts at the Saxton Oval in Nelson.

Devcich struck 10 fours and a six during his 68-ball knock, and put up crucial stands of 61 for the first and third wickets with Daniel Flynn and BJ Watling respectively, to propel the team to 174 for 4 from their 20 overs.

Central Districts lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase and slumped to 64 for 5 in the ninth over. Kruger van Wyk and Will Young combined for a sixth-wicket association that yielded 54 runs, but the Northern Districts bowlers managed to keep the run-rate under eight an over. Van Wyk top-scored with 42, but was run-out in the final over of the game, and the team were eventually restricted to 149 for 7.

Seamers Graeme Aldridge and Chris Tremain notched up two scalps each for Northern Districts.

An incisive bowling performance from Otago's bowlers, followed by a half-century from Neil Broom, helped the team to an eight-wicket victory over over Auckland in Alexandra.

Auckland, put in to bat, lost wickets right from the off and barring a 56 from Jeet Raval, none of their other batsmen made more than 20. Only three players managed to reach double digits, as James McMillan, Jacob Duffy and Nick Beard picked up two wickets apiece to restrict Auckland to 119 for 9.

Otago were always at comfort chasing a paltry total, as the openers Broom and Hamish Rutherford put up 99 in 12.3 overs. Broom fell for 51 and Rutherford was run-out two overs later for 49, but Otago won with 26 balls remaining.

The match between Wellington and Canterbury in Wellington was abandoned without a ball being bowled.