Knights too good for the Kings

IN FORM: Knights leg spinner Ish Sodhi dives to stop a boundary against the Kings at Bay Oval. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER

The Knights have quickly become the team to beat in the McDonald's Super Smash after successive wins at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.

Following Tuesday's nine-wicket demolition of the Auckland Aces, the Knights bowled and fielded superbly to outclass the Canterbury Kings today.Canterbury batted first but struggled through to 127/6 in their 20 overs, which the Knights comfortably chased down for the loss of four wickets.

BJ Watling has hit form at just the right time with two unbeaten half centuries chasing down the targets.

His captain and opening batting partner, Dean Brownlie, was pleased with his team's all-round performances, with a further pool game to play tomorrow night in Hamilton against the Wellington Firebirds.

"We bowled really well, we fielded really well and I think our batting has stood up as well," Brownlie said.

"All three forms we had to get better at after our couple of losses in a row so, I think, all three things have gone up a notch. We are slowly finding a way we want to play and I think it has been good.

"We are sitting second at the moment so if we win (tomorrow) it locks us into the top three I think. Hopefully we can put in another key performance and keep that going."

Kings captain Andrew Ellis won the toss and batted first with Tauranga's Jono Boult opening the bowling with his wily off-spinners.

Boult was excellent, finishing with 1-18 off his four overs.

Scott Kuggeleijn and Australian import Trent Lawford took a wicket each to have the Kings 29/2.

Former Black Caps Henry Nicholls and Peter Fulton put on 20 before Boult had Fulton caught and bowled from a leading edge in the ninth over with the Kings 49/3.

Ish Sodhi removed Ellis through a fine catch at long off by Peter Bocock in the 12th over to have the Kings reeling at 69/4.

It got worse for the Cantabrians when Kuggeleijn dismissed Nicholls, caught behind by keeper Tim Seifert for 25 off 27 balls.

The Kings struggled to hit boundaries which blunted any momentum.

Todd Astle took 11 from Lawton in the final over to finish on 37 not out and get the Kings through to 127/6.

Watling was the early aggressor for the Knights, hitting four quick boundaries to get the Knights innings rolling with 22 off the first three overs.

Brownlie then joined in the boundary frenzy to push the Knights to 37 off five overs.

He swatted a huge six over wide third man off pace bowler Kyle Jamieson with one of the shots of the day.

Brownlie thrashed the bowling to all parts of the expansive Bay Oval before he was caught at midwicket for 36 off 22 balls.

The Knights then lost momentum by losing three quick wickets.

At 87/4 the Knights needed someone to stay in with Watling. Nick Kelly did just that and put on 42 off 30 balls with Watling to see the Knights home.

Watling hit a six to bring up his 50 and the victory to crown a memorable two days at the Oval for the Knights.

The Knights host the Wellington Firebirds at Seddon Park, Hamilton from 7.10pm tonight.

Canterbury Kings 127/6 (Todd Astle 34*; Scott Kuggeleijn 2-22, Trent Lawford 2-34, Jono Boult 1-18) lost to Knights 129/4 (BJ Watling 52*, Dean Brownlie 36, Nick Kelly 23*)