Cricket: Aldridge sets Knights on way to semis

Graeme Aldridge (centre) high-fives catcher Jono Hickey after one of the seamer's four wickets for the Northern Knights at Bay Oval yesterday. Photo / John Borren

The Northern Knights clinched a place in Saturday's Ford Trophy semifinals after a hard-fought two-wicket victory over the Auckland Aces in a surprisingly low-scoring match at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.

An inspired spell of seam bowling from 37-year-old Graeme Aldridge ripped apart the Aces' top order in the first hour yesterday. Aldridge took four of the first five wickets to fall, to have the Aces at 45-5, and they slumped further to 65-7 with a wicket each to Jono Boult and Ish Sodhi.

A 75-run partnership between Carl Cachopa (51) and Tarun Nethula (41no) turned things around slightly for the Aces but their total of 160 in 43.5 overs did not seem enough. Aldridge finished with 4-18 off eight overs and said bowling in consistent areas was the key.

"The wicket was a little bit slow and a little bit up-and-down early doors with the new ball. Just putting pressure on them and making them do something they didn't want to do," Aldridge said.

"The last few games definitely I have been bowling okay and possibly not getting the rewards. But you always know they are round the corner if you keep going well."

In reply, the Knights reached 38-2 before the lunch break but lost Daryl Mitchell for 0 after the restart to be 42-3. It was up to Black Caps Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling to put together a partnership and they combined for 52 before Brownlie was out for 45 off 73 balls.

Mitchell Santner, who had taken 2-25 with his left-arm spinners, joined Watling but the keeper was out soon after, bowled by Michael Bates for 25. That left a few doubts in the Knights' dressing room with the total 103-5. The doubts increased dramatically when Santner was out for 15 and then Hickey fell for 12 at 135-7, leaving 20 more to win with 10 overs left.

A booming six and two fours from Scott Kuggeleijn was just what was needed, then Sodhi was out at 150-8.

Bay of Plenty's Jono Boult crashed a boundary from the first ball he faced and saw the Knights home beside the impressive Kuggeleijn, who was unbeaten on 25.

Aldridge says the Knights are confident they can go all the way in the competition.

"We haven't really put it together as a whole game yet, which has been a frustration for the whole campaign. But that is a positive as well because we know that on our day we can beat anyone."