Warner anchors Northern Districts' win

Northern Districts joined Auckland at the top of the points table after they comprehensively beat Canterbury by eight wickets at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Northern Districts won the toss and chose to field, after rain delayed the start of play and the match was reduced to 18 overs. It looked like James Marshall had made the correct decision when Robi Nicol, coming off a match-winning half-century against Otago, was dismissed by Graeme Aldrige in the second over. Canterbury were 37 for 3 at the end of six overs and looked in danger of collapsing cheaply. However, Ryan ten Doeschate combined with Shannan Stewart and Carl Anderson for handy partnerships of 44 and 38 to steady the innings. But once ten Doeschate was dismissed on 119, the Canterbury innings fell away and they could only reach 138 for 8.

Opener Daniel Flynn blasted 45 off 19 balls to get Northern Districts' chase off to a cracking start. Flynn and David Warner added 54 runs before Flynn was dismissed. South African import Herschelle Gibbs at No. 3, together with Warner, cemented Northern Districts' win with a 79-run partnership. Warner was unbeaten on 52 as Northern Districts completed an easy victory in just under 14 overs.