Cricket: Auckland bats chase down Knights

Brett Hampton hitting out for the Northern Knights against the Auckland Aces in a pre-season game at Bay Oval yesterday. Photo / John Borren

Pre-season fixtures are generally intended to prepare players for more meaningful cricket ahead, but that has not been entirely true in Mount Maunganui this week.

Afghanistan, the Northern Knights and the Auckland Aces have slogged it out in one-day matches at the rapidly developing Bay Oval, but it is the venue itself that is likely to gain the most from the presence of the three teams ahead of the arrival of the New Zealand and South African sides for a pair of one-day internationals. Today marks two weeks before the first of those clashes, with the second to be played three days later on October 24.

The Knights and Aces struggled to make an impact with the bat in a 40-over contest played in strong winds under overcast skies.

The Knights batted first, but lost Joe Carter for no score in the second over and fellow opener Ben Horne for four a few overs later. Bharat Popli steadied the ship with Jono Hickey, but when both were removed short of their half-centuries the Knights' innings stagnated. They were restricted to 161/8, which the Aces chased down thanks to a composed innings from Rob Nicol.

The former Canterbury and Black Caps opening batsman paced the chase beautifully, accelerating late in the day to finish unbeaten on 97 to guide his side to victory with six wickets and more than four overs to spare.

Afghanistan signalled they mean business heading into next year's 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup with a decisive nine-wicket win over the Auckland Aces at Bay Oval on Sunday.

The tourists, coached by former Black Caps coach Andy Moles, bounced back in style after being comprehensively beaten by the Aces in the opening match on Thursday.

The busiest team on Saturday was the ground staff, who were continuously on and off the field covering the wicket because of the inclement weather.

Play was finally abandoned for the day at 3.45pm with just 19.3 overs bowled, after Auckland had won the toss and elected to bat.

Auckland continued on 58/4 on Sunday, but never really hit their stride on their way to 201/8.

Afghanistan, chasing a revised target of 200, made short work of the chase.

The opening pair of Usman Ghani and Nawroz Mangal upped the ante with Ghani smashing a century before being bowled by Donovan Grobbelar for 107. Mangal was still at the crease with an unbeaten 77 when the winning runs were struck.

Afghanistan are set to play the Knights today, with their final match against the same opposition on Thursday.