Day four: Canterbury Wizards 73 all out and 139-0 declared lost to Northern Knights 40-0 declared and 482 all out by 310 runs.
An early declaration and superb bowling display by the SKYCITY Northern Knights has given them a 310 run win over competition leading Canterbury Wizards. Ish Sodhi took his best First Class figures, making a huge impact on the result.
After openers Brad Wilson and Daniel Flynn reached 40 runs in ten overs, the Knights declared their innings closed and gave the Wizards most of the day to chase 383 for the win.
The chase started poorly when Graeme Aldridge removed both openers cheaply, with Trent Bout getting Dean Brownlie for 5. Henry Nicholls showed some resistance, but his top score or 24 perhaps tells the tale of his side's innings. Sodhi ran amok, ending with 5-29 in his 12.5 overs, with Scott Kuggeleijn chipping in to claim Rob Nicol's wicket.
The win moves the Knights from the foot of the table, and prevents the Wizards from moving away from the pack - this could prove to be an influential match at the end of the season.
Day three: Canterbury Wizards 139-0 declared trail SKYCITY Northern Knights 5-0 and 482 all out by 348 runs.
Rain and ground delays meant only 36 overs were possible - in that time the Canterbury Wizards reached 139 for no loss before declaring, giving the SKYCITY Northern Knights 3.1 overs to bat, which they negotiated for no loss.
The Knights attack were unable to shift Peter Fulton (78*) and Tom Latham (56*), who both brought up their half centuries in the first session of the day. The pair batted until tea, when the rain stuck again, robbing this game of more time. By the time play was again possible the Wizards had declared their innings, but only 3.1 further overs were able to be completed before the rain again forced the players from the field with Brad Wilson and Daniel Flynn the batsmen in.
The Knights hold a big lead in a contest that has been robbed of its momentum, and could take something dramatic on day four to give either side the result they want from this match.
Day two: SKY CITY Northern Knights 482 lead Canterbury Wizards 16-0 by 466 runs.
Centuries to Daniel Flynn (101) and Mitchell Santner (118)
have seen the SKYCITY Northern Knights post a commanding first-innings total of 482 in
their Plunket Shield match against the Canterbury Wizards.
The Wizards reached 16 without loss by the end of day two, with Peter Fulton and Tom Latham both unbeaten on seven.
A 144 run stand between Flynn and Joe Carter for the second
wicket took the sting out of the Wizards bowling attack, who were without Hamish
Bennett and Matt Henry (BLACKCAPS duty).
Flynn was putting on a true captain’s knock, bringing up his
16th First Class century off 178 balls. Unfortunately he didn’t last
much longer, dismissed by Andrew Ellis in the 65th over.
Despite the dangerous Daryl Mitchell (24) and BJ Watling
(12) going relatively cheaply, there were still plenty more runs to come for
the Knights.
Bharat Popli fought hard for 82, but it was Santner who
stole the show, notching his maiden First Class century from 186 balls.
Rain intervened a couple of times, before the Knights
innings was finally brought to a close after 132.4 overs.
Andrew Ellis starred with the ball for the Wizards, taking a
five wicket bag in his 32 overs for 97 runs.
