Napier hits out for Central Districts

Late fireworks from Graham Napier propelled Central Districts to a rousing one-day cricket win over Northern Districts in Palmerston North today.

Napier smacked 73 not out off just 27 deliveries to lift his team past the visitors' 300 for five with three wickets and 15 balls to spare at Fitzherbert Park.

The allrounder cracked seven fours and five sixes in 31 minutes as he shared an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 87 in 38 balls with George Worker, who ended up 27 not out.

Napier's pyrotechnics turned the match on its head after Central Districts had slumped to 219 for seven in the 42nd over.

He rushed to 50 off 20 balls, making it the second fastest domestic one-day half-century after Peter McGlashan used up 19 balls to reach the mark against Auckland in 2007-08.

Northern Districts had ridden the coat tails of teenager Kane Williamson, who scored a career-best 107 not out then took three for 48 with his offspin to do more than his share to ensure the right result for his side.

But Central Districts rose to the challenge thanks to Napier, whose blazing bat overshadowed Williamson's second one-day century, reached in the final over after he hit seven fours and three sixes off 106 deliveries.

Williamson was helped by rapid fire half-centuries at the other end to opener Anton Devcich and wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan as almost all of Central Districts' bowlers were put to the sword.

Devcich gave their innings early momentum with 54 off 56 balls while McGlashan later accelerated the run rate with 53 off just 41 balls.

Williamson could not keep out of the action as Central Districts began their chase, helping remove opener Jamie How for four when accepting a catch off seamer Trent Boult.

International Tim Southee then inflicted a hammer blow to the home side's hopes by bowling Mathew Sinclair for 13, before Williamson reappeared to in his offspinning guise to dismiss Tim Weston for 18 and end a third wicket stand of 57 with Peter Ingram.

Ingram scored 59 before he was deceived and trapped leg before wicket by Williamson shortly after a brief cameo by Noema-Barnett ended after he had swiped 45 off just 31 balls, including five sixes.

Central Districts's cause looked hopeless but then Napier came to the wicket to steamroll his side to victory.

SCOREBOARD

Northern Districts

BJ Watling run out 28
A Devcich b Thompson 54
K Williamson not out 107
M Parlane c Griggs b Thompson 14
D Flynn c Ingram b Noema-Barnett 10
P McGlashan c How b Napier 53
J Yovich not out 21
Extras (4b, 7lb, 2w) 13
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 300
Fall: 79, 88, 116, 149, 240.
Bowling: E Thompson 10-1-30-2, M Mason 5-1-25-0, G Napier 10-0-79-1 (2w), J Oram 10-0-73-0, G Worker 8-0-54-0, K Noema-Barnett 7-0-28-1.

Central Districts

P Ingram lbw b Williamson 59
J How c Williamson b Boult 4
M Sinclair b Southee 13
T Weston c McGlashan b Williamson 18
K Noema-Barnett b Martin 45
J Oram c Watling b Williamson 35
B Griggs c Watling b Arnel 11
G Worker not out 27
G Napier not out 73
Extras (9b, 5lb, 7w) 21
Total (for 7 wkts, 47.3 overs) 306
Fall: 7, 32, 89, 144, 150, 167, 219.
Bowling: T Boult 9-0-69-1 (1w), T Southee 8.3-0-68-1, B Martin 10-0-44-1 (1w), B Arnel 9-0-54-1 (1w), K Williamson 10-0-48-3 (1w), J Yovich 1-0-9-0.

Result: Central Districts won by three wickets.

- NZPA