Thompson six flattens Canterbury

Newly-crowned Twenty20 champions Central Districts crushed Canterbury by eight wickets in New Plymouth. Canterbury were dismissed for 77 in just 32.4 overs as CD's fast bowlers Michael Mason and Ewen Thompson used the overcast conditions to their advantage. CD then overhauled the target in the 15th over to collect the bonus point. Canterbury struggled to cope with Thompson as he picked up 6 for 20. His first victim was opener Michael Papps, who fell without scoring off the fifth ball of the innings. Thompson went on to claim two middle-order wickets and then cleaned up the tail, going past 100 one-day wickets on the way. Rob Nicol, Johann Myburgh and Shannan Stewart were the only Canterbury batsmen to reach double figures. Jamie How scored a near run-a-ball 46, including nine boundaries, to steer CD home despite the early loss of George Worker for a duck.

Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten century as Northern Districts cruised to a seven-wicket win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve. Wellington, who were invited to bat, managed 216 with half-centuries from wicketkeeper Chris Nevin and allrounder Luke Woodcock. ND overhauled the target in 33 overs. They lost their first wicket when Anton Devcich departed for a duck in the second over as Mark Gillespie celebrated his return to provincial action from a 13-month injury break. But BJ Watling and Williamson revelled in perfect batting conditions to deny Wellington any further inroads with a 145-run partnership for the second wicket. Watling was bowled by Harry Boam for 50 and Gillespie snapped up Michael Parlane an over later to have the visitors at 147 for 3. However, Daniel Flynn then held firm with 45 not out and together with Williamson (108 not out) saw them through.

Tim McIntosh smashed his maiden one-day hundred to help Auckland to a convincing 84-run win over Otago in Oamaru. McIntosh's fluent 138 laid the platform for Auckland's huge 362 for 5, a total which proved too steep for Otago despite an unbeaten 110 from Yasir Arafat. Otago finished on 278 in the 47th over after Arafat and Greg Todd resurrected their hopes from 79 for 6. Arafat's defiant hand left him unbeaten on 110 off only 81 deliveries, including 13 fours and three sixes. Once Auckland chose to bat, McIntosh struck 16 fours and three sixes during his 127-ball stay, and shared a second wicket stand of 194 with Reece Young (94), before Scott Styris upped the tempo with a blistering 55 off 23 balls.