Northern Districts ride on all-round Williamson

Northern Districts rode on Kane Williamson's all-round performance to snuff Wellington's challenge by 34 runs at the Basin Reserve. Williamson did the early running at the top of the order after Northern Districts chose to bat. His 53 off 41 deliveries dominated his three partnerships and laid the base for Peter McGlashan to launch a late assault. McGlashan hammered three sixes in racing to 29 off 14 before being run out off the final delivery of the innings. Andy McKay and Luke Woodcock returned decent figures for Wellington, picking up two wickets each, but Mark Gillespie went for 49 from his four overs as Northern Districts ended on 162 for 7.

Trent Boult and Scott Styris almost ended Wellington's chase early, striking twice each to reduce them to 35 for 4, a position from which they never recovered. James Franklin was the lone batsman to produce any sort of fightback, but when he fell for 48 to Daniel Vettori, Wellington's chase was all but over. Williamson helped himself to three lower-order wickets as Wellington were dismissed for 128 with an over to go.