Cricket: Focused Knights claim maiden title in pulsating final

Northern Knights players Daniel Flynn, left, and Anton Devcich. Photo/File

The Northern Knights broke their HIV Cup Twenty20 hoodoo by finally winning the title after a pulsating final against the Otago Volts in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Otago won the toss and chose to bat, but struggled against a disciplined Northern bowling attack to reach a moderate 143-5, with Scott Styris the pick of the Northern bowlers with 1-16 from his four overs.

Needing just over seven an over, Northern paced their innings well to overcome a double breakthrough from West Indian bowler Jason Holder in his first over.

But under pressure Daryl Mitchell (46 not out) and Scott Kuggeleijn (22 off seven balls) saw the Knights home with an over to spare in a superb exhibition of controlled target hitting.

Knights coach James Pamment, from Mount Maunganui, says the accuracy and plans they put in place for each individual game paid off.

"The commitment to those plans by the players individually and collectively is probably what stood us in good stead," Pamment said.

He was full of praise for the way Mitchell and Kuggeleijn handled the pressure of two pressure-cooker matches on consecutive nights.

"There was obviously a lot of pressure there but it was obviously evident that they kept a cool head and took some very good options ... These guys have been training for certain situations and what you can replicate are the skills required to deliver certain aspects of the game and they went back to that training."

Pamment is pleased with the progress Daniel Flynn has made as captain in his first season in charge.

"He has managed the bowling effort and fielding effort really well. Daniel is a competitor and has a good cricket brain and that is why I went for him as a leader of this team.

"He will develop further as a man manager and as a total leader but his understanding of the game and his tactical nous is second to none. I thought he did a fantastic job throughout this season."

The Twenty20 goal now for the Knights is entry into the qualifying tournament for the lucrative Champions League to be held in India in September.

Otago 143-5 (Neil Broom 44, Ryan ten Doeschate 36; Styris 1-16) lost to Northern Districts 144-5 (Mitchell 46, Watling 37; McMillan 1-23, Holder 2-38) by five wickets.