Northern Districts win by ten runs

Northern Districts defended their score of 145 for 5 against Otago to complete a ten-run victory at Seddon Park. After getting sent in to bat, Northern Districts made a quick start through a 63-run stand between Anton Devcich and Dean Brownlie for the second wicket. However, they slipped from 72 for 1 in 7.4 overs to 79 for 4 in 10.1 overs, before they were steadied by Daryl Mitchell, who made a run-a-ball 45.

Otago lost Aaron Redmond early in the chase of 146, but Jesse Ryder and Michael Bracewell added 62 for the second wicket. Both batsmen fell in the space of three balls, though, and Otago were struggling at 68 for 3 after ten overs. None of the remaining batsmen, apart from Ryan ten Doeschate, could score quickly or substantially, and they were restricted to 135 in 20 overs despite having four wickets in hand. Daniel Vettori was wicketless for Northern Districts, but conceded only 15 in a four-over spell.

Canterbury's bowlers restricted Central Districts to 114 for 7, setting up a six-wicket victory in Hamilton. Central Districts struggled after choosing to bat - Jamie How was their only batsman to pass 20 and he made only 23 - collapsing from 58 for 2 in the 11th over to 69 for 6 in the 16th. Legspinner Todd Astle returned outstanding figures of 2 for 10 in four overs for Canterbury, while offspinner Cole McConchie took 2 for 20.

Canterbury's chase of the target of 115 was not smooth. They stumbled from 33 for 1 in the sixth over to 38 for 4, before a brace of 30s from Brendon Diamanti and Andrew Ellis ensured they reached the target with eight balls to spare. Diamanti and Ellis had the highest partnership of the match - 78 for the fourth wicket.