Powerful batting sets up Canterbury win

A powerful collective batting performance from Canterbury set up a 65-run victory against Auckland in Timaru. After winning the toss, Canterbury made a fast start, with their openers adding 48 inside six overs. Henry Nicholls and Neil Broom then put on 103 for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a large score. Auckland fought back through Tarun Nethula, though, the legspinner taking three wickets to reduce the opponents to 166 for 5. Canterbury were lifted once again by Andrew Ellis and Todd Astle, who struck aggressive half-centuries to post 335 for 6.

Auckland's chase suffered because a lot of their batsmen got starts but no one made even a half-century. Opener Anaru Kitchen's 47 was the top score. They slumped to 205 for 9 at on stage before Michael Bates struck 44 off 29 balls at No. 10 to lift them to 270 in 50 overs. Ellis and Astle took two wickets apiece for Canterbury to go with their scores of 66 not out and 83.

Half-centuries from Jamie How, Ben Smith and Will Young spurred Central Districts to a six-wicket win against Wellington in Nelson. Chasing 256, How blasted 53 off 27 balls, Smith contributed 75, and Young was unbeaten on 97 as the target was achieved in 44.1 overs. Brent Arnel took all four Central Districts that fell.

The Wellington batting had fallen away after their top three made useful contributions. Michael Pollard made 55, Michael Papps scored 35 and Stephen Murdoch contributed 61 but the innings slumped from 86 for 0 to 123 for 4. They collapsed again from 167 for 4 to 211 for 8, before finishing on 255. Adam Milne and George Worker took three wickets each for Central Districts.