Noema-Barnett blitz gives Central Districts win
Kieran Noema-Barnett scored the fastest half-century in New Zealand domestic Twenty20 cricket to help Central Districts break their three-match losing streak. Chasing Otago's 175, Noema-Barnett smashed 57 off 18 to take Central Districts home with 15 balls to spare at Queen's Park in Invercargill. It was his first half-century in Twenty20 cricket. Central Districts got off to a quick start in their chase thanks to George Worker's 43 and were on course when Noema-Barnett came in at 100 for 2. He decided not to leave it till the last over as he smashed six sixes of the hapless Otago bowlers. Neil Broom and wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder had got Otago to a competitive total with their unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership of 79 off 38. Michael Yardy, the England left-arm spinner, and seamer Adam Milne took two wickets each to reduce Otago to 96 for 6 before Broom and de Boorder's partnership. Central Distrcits move up to third in the table after the win while Otago are rooted to the bottom, having lost all four of their games.
Auckland scraped to a one-run win at the Village Green in Christchurch after Ryan ten Doeschate failed to hit the required boundary off the last ball for Canterbury. Doeschate, who plays for Netherlands, had brought Canterbury close in their chase of 156 and finished with 51 not out off 41. Auckland had reached their total thanks to opener Jimmy Adams' 45 off 37 and some late hitting from Colin Munro, who scored 33 off 16. They were helped by Canterbury's bowlers, who gave away seven runs in wides. In their chase, Canterbury lost two early wickets before Doeschate and opener Rob Nicol put together a 55-run partnership. But once Nicol was out, Auckland got another quick wicket and managed to keep a lid on the runs to take the victory. Auckland move to joint top of the table with the win.
It was one-way traffic at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, as half-centuries from wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan and Brad Hodge, the Australia batsman, gave Nothern Districts a 54-run victory over Wellington. Hodge had got the visitors off to a swift start with his 51 off 32, and then McGlashan's 66 off 31 and Anton Devcich's 48 off 30 kept the run-rate up to take them to a total of 201. Wellington's response never kicked off and they were bowled out in 19.5 overs. Jesse Ryder, who missed New Zealand's ODI series in India with a calf injury, was out for four in the third over and the wickets kept tumbling after that. Left-arm seamer Bradley Scott took 3 for 32 for Northern Districts, as they move up to joint top of the table.