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The unpredictability of Twenty20 cricket was hammered home today after the Auckland Aces lost by eight wickets to the Northern Knights in the HRV Cup at Colin Maiden Park today.
The Aces had opened their season by beating defending champions the Central Stags by 50 runs on Friday while the Knights had arrived in Auckland licking their wounds from a 78-run loss to the Stags on Thursday.
Batting first, the Aces were all out for just 74 runs in an innings lasting 18.5 overs.
The Knights put a stranglehold on the game with tight bowling -- they gave up just one wide in the extras column.
Extremely good fielding backed up their bowlers to have the Aces crumbling after opener Jimmy Adams departed in the first over for one run.
A tentative top order -- Colin de Grandhomme, 18 and Dusan Hakaraia, nought, disappeared to catches behind by wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan.
They were quickly followed by Anaru Kitchen, one, Lou Vincent, one, and Colin Munro, nought, which had the Aces reeling at 21 for six after just 5.3 overs.
Brad Cachopa, 26 not out off 40 balls and Hira, 16 off 26 balls out provided the only resistance of note to the Aces' innings.
Brad Scott three for 17 and Graeme Aldridge, two for 20, were the best of the Knights' bowlers.
McGlashan was dismissed for a duck off the second ball he faced as the Knights got their chase underway but former Australian international Brad Hodge, 37 off 25 balls and Brad Wilson, 22 off 20, put on a rollicking partnership of 46 runs for the second wicket.
After Wilson departed to a Munro catch off Andre Adams, another of the Knights' Australian guests, David Hussey, 17 off 10 balls, helped Hodge knock off the remaining 28 runs needed for victory.
NZPA
