The Northern Knights have nestled into top spot on the points table after back to back victories in the Plunket Shield. Their latest win was over the Central Stags was by nine wickets and they did it with a day to spare at Cobham Oval in Whangarei.
The hosts did the hard work on day one when they kept Central to 94 and then grafted their way to 279 on a difficult pitch.
Central put up a better showing in their second innings making 310 with prolific batsman Mathew Sinclair making 93. Some late hitting from Ewen Thompson (36) and Doug Bracewell 60 not out helped propel the score but it was it was never enough to put pressure on the Knights.
Graeme Aldridge was the chief destroyer taking five for 96 giving him a total haul of 11 wickets for the match.
The 125 runs required for victory was knocked off in comfortable fashion with Michael Parlane leading the way with an unbeaten 66.
The win was made sweeter with Peter McGlashan breaking the world record for catches in a match with 12 (six in each innings). This is the most catches ever taken in a First-Class match anywhere in the world. The previous record of 11 catches was shared by a number of wicketkeepers.
Day 2: Central Stage 178 for five trail Northern Knights by 5 runs
The Northern Knights took their overnight score of 184 for six through to 279 on day two against the Central Stags at Cobham Oval, Whangarei.
Inform batsman Joseph Yovich hit 51 with young Jono Boult the best of the Northern batsmen with 75.
Strike bowler Michael Mason took another wicket for the Stags to finish with five for 94 – his tenth First-Class five wicket bag.
Central’s second innings got off to a rocky start with the first three batsmen back in the pavilion inside the first ten overs.
Ross Taylor and Mathew Sinclair then combined to get the innings back on track with a 137 run partnership before Taylor was out for 66.
Sinclair will resume tomorrow on 85 with Bevin Griggs at the other end on six.
Day 1: Northern Knights 184 for six lead Central Stags by 90 runs
The Northern Knights have already secured first innings points against the Central Stags at Cobham Oval, Whangarei.
Sixteen wickets fell on a day dominated by the bowlers with Northern seamers Trent Boult and Graeme Aldridge taking all ten wickets between them to roll Central for 94 before lunch.
Aldridge took a career best six for 49 with Boult picking up four for 15.
BLACKCAP Ross Taylor was the Stags best batsman with 29.
The Knights also struggled with the bat in reply and were reeling at nine for two before Brad Wilson (43) and captain James Marshall (30) combined to steady the innings with a 61 run partnership.
The unbeaten batsmen are Joseph Yovich on 30 and Jono Boult on 33 who will look to extend their 90 run lead tomorrow.
Michael Mason was Centrals stand out bowler taking four for 59.
