Auckland go top with third straight win

Auckland kept their unbeaten run in the Super Smash alive by winning their third match in a row, beating Northern Districts by 38 runs in Hamilton to go top of the league by two points.

Despite losing the toss, Auckland had solid contributions from their batting line-up, with opener Rob Nicol top-scoring with 55 off 47 balls. There were useful contributions all the way down, and the innings was given a powerful finish by Colin de Grandhomme, who scored 36 off 12 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Auckland finished with 186 for 6 in 20 overs.

Legspinner Ish Sodhi was the pick of the Northern districts bowlers, taking 2 for 26; allrounder Corey Anderson did not bowl in the innings.

Northern Districts made a steady, if not rapid, start to the chase, reaching 27 for 0 before losing both openers to Mitchell McClenaghan in the fifth over. The innings never picked up momentum after that, with fast bowler Tymal Mills conceding only 19 in four overs, while legspinner Tarun Nethula took 2 for 20 in his four. Auckland restricted Northern Districts to 148 for 6.