Northern Districts triumph in astonishing run-chase

Northern Districts 273 and 400 for 9 (Marshall 128, Hart 107, Yovich 54*) beat Central Districts 479 and 193 by 1 wicket
Scorecard

Northern Districts triumphed in an astounding run-chase with a 48-run last-wicket partnership helping them hunt down 400 against Central Districts. That it came with the rain getting heavier and light fading made it all the more memorable.

The target of 400 looked beyond ND's reach when they lost their fourth and fifth wickets on 85. But Matt Hart and Hamish Marshall responded in outstanding fashion and put them back on track with a 216-run stand, an ND record for the sixth-wicket. Marshall, who has a one-day international century, scored his first first-class hundred with 128, in 238 minutes, and notched up his 2000th first-class run along the way when he was on 46.

Hart's hundred, 107 runs in 209 minutes, was his fourth. But he fell when 99 were still required, and Marshall followed when 62 were needed. Matters took an even sharper turn when Michael Mason, who earlier removed Marshall, took two wickets off successive balls to leave ND at 352 for 9.

However, ND were not finished yet. Joseph Yovich and Ian Butler kept their calm even though the players were briefly forced from the field due to rain. Having come this close, with Yovish at the crease, there was always hope for ND. Though he bats at No. 8, he has a highest first-class score of 99, and 10 half-centuries to his credit.

He added to that today by finishing on 54 not out, while Butler revealed his batting ability by scoring 14, including the match-winning boundary off Lance Hamilton - a hit back over the bowler's head.

Match abandoned due to rain Wellington 291 and 85 for 2 need 166 more runs to beat Otago 327 and 214 (Cumming 57, J Ryder 3-31, Gillespie 3-58)
Scorecard

Rain in Wellington meant no play was possible, and this left Otago to claim first-innings points from the match, and Wellington with some work to do to keep in touch with the competition's front-runners.