Semi at stake fires up Knights

Kane Williamson had a sizeable itch ahead of yesterday's knock against Wellington, but his innings was far from scratchy.

Williamson scored a scintillating 108 not-out as his Northern Knights side registered a seven-wicket thumping of their hosts in the domestic one-day cricket encounter at the Basin Reserve.

The 19-year-old batsman couldn't earn a regular spot in the Knights side for their just-completed Twenty20 campaign but bounced back yesterday with an outstanding knock that greatly boosted Northern Districts' hopes of making the semifinals.

Chasing Wellington's 216 for nine in 50 overs, the visitors raced to victory with 17 overs to spare, earning a bonus-point victory.

Williamson, batting at No3, put on 145 for the second wicket with BJ Watling (50 off 57 balls) and finished the match in style with an unbeaten 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Daniel Flynn, who thumped five fours and two sixes in reaching 45 not-out in just 35 deliveries.

"I was itching to get out and have a hit," Williamson said last night.

"I'd had a couple of A team games when not in the Twenty20 side so I felt my form was good but I couldn't wait to get out there."

The right-hander helped the Knights' chase get off in rapid fashion as he took advantage of some over-aggressive bowling.

"They bowled quite short at me for some reason," Williamson said, with the biggest culprit being former Black Caps quick Mark Gillespie.

Williamson punished him and his propensity to bowl no-balls by twice dispatching the subsequent "free hit" deliveries for six.

"I got a couple of free hits and made the most of those; that started a bit of an aggressive mindset and BJ was also scoring freely at the other end."

"Then Flynny was striking the ball brilliantly – it was good to see him come out and do that."

Williamson struck five sixes and seven fours in his 102-ball innings.

Earlier, the Knights built on a fine opening bowling spell from seamer Graeme Aldridge to put Wellington on the back foot.

Aldridge's first spell produced figures of 6-3-3-1 and Wellington barely recovered, with Chris Nevin (63 off 89 balls), Luke Woodcock (52 off 65) and Harry Boam (37 off 34) offering middle-order resistance.

"It was a very clinical win for us," Williamson said.

"It was a pleasing combined performance, with some outstanding fielding too."

The Knights are tied for fourth spot with two rounds of the regular season remaining before the semifinals.

Central Districts, fresh from beating Auckland for the national Twenty20 title on Saturday, returned to New Plymouth's Pukekura Park to crush Canterbury by eight wickets.

Canterbury were dismissed for 77 runs in just 32.4 overs as Central bowler Ewen Thompson took 6-20.

Those who pigeon-holed Tim McIntosh as a first-class specialist will have to think again after he bludgeoned his maiden one-day cricket century to help Auckland to a crushing 84-run win over Otago.

McIntosh's fluent 138 laid the platform for Auckland's record 362-5, a total Otago never challenged despite an unbeaten 110 from Yasir Arafat. Otago's chase ended on 278 in the 47th over.

- with NZPA

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