Northern Districts v Wellington – HRV Cup, 2012/13 – Match Update – Northern Districts win by 9 wickets

Opening batsmen Anton Devcich and Brad Wilson set up the highest partnership in this season of the ongoing HRV Cup so far, and their stellar efforts propelled the Northern Districts Knights to a
comprehensive 9-wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds, in their match at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on January 1.

The match kicked off with Wellington winning the toss and choosing to bat first, and the team went on to justify it with a solid performance. The Knights’ Bradley Scott (4-0-46-2), Brent Arnel (4-0-28-1), and Corey Anderson (3-0-30-1) were the only ones who managed to make any dents in the Firebirds’ batting order, which held firm to post a daunting final total of 197 by the end of 20 overs.

Wellington’s performance was driven by opener Jesse Ryder (62 off 37) – the highest run-scorer in the HRV Cup this season – and Tamim Iqbal (68 off 49), both of whom joined forces for an opening stand worth 90 runs. Ryder, who smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours, was sent packing in the 10th over by Scott, but Tamim Iqbal stuck it out for a 54-run partnership with wicketkeeper batsman Luke Ronchi (13).

By the time Anderson had taken Ronchi out of the game in the 16th over, the team total had swelled to 144. Tamim Iqbal followed him back to the pavilion in the very next over, undone by Arnel, and a string of small contributions from skipper Grant Elliott (21), Dimitri Mascarenhas (21*), and Scott Kuggeleijn (6*), saw the Firebirds setting their opponents a stiff target of 198 to chase.

However, the Knights were more than up to the challenge, and with the exception of Jesse Ryder (4-0-32-1), none of Wellington’s bowlers managed to do any damage. Opening for their side, Anton Devcich (92*) and Brad Wilson (74) teamed up for a 165-run stand – the highest partnership for any wicket this HRV season, the second-highest opening stand of all time in the tournament, and the all-time 12th highest in Twenty20 cricket history.

Their combined efforts resulted in the Knights easily completing more than half the chase, and after Wilson was dislodged by Ryder in the 16th over, Devcich and Steven Croft (17*) teamed up for an unbeaten 35-run partnership. Their stand got the Northern Districts safely over the finish line, enabling them to reach 200 with 9 wickets still in hand, and 6 deliveries remaining.