Parlane ton gives Northland first innings points

Northland century maker Neal Parlane. Photo/Tania Whyte

A magnificant ton by Neal Parlane saved the day for Northland in their two-day match Fergus Hickey clash at Cobham Oval over the weekend.

Parlane came in with his side in all sorts of trouble at 14/3 chasing their arch rival Hamilton's first innings total of 229.

He crafted a chanceless 106 not out to get Northland to 233/9 declared, earning first innings points and a moral victory.

Parlane faced 173 balls in his innings and scored 10 fours and two sixes and saw off Hamilton's danger man Jonathon McNeill (4/42) early in his innings.

The rest of the Northland middle order rallied with his example to help achieve the goal.

Tyler Lortan (18), Kyran Dill (21), Todd Beehre (33) and Kurtley Watson (24) all contributed valuable runs and time at the wicket.

But each time Northland began to look confident another wicket would fall and finally it was left to number-11 batsman Cameron Johnson to keep his wicket intact while Parlane got the nine runs required to get past Hamilton's total.

On Saturday, Northland won the toss and put the visitors into bat, with Brett Randell (2-40 off 17) and Dill (1-38 off 12) making early in-roads.

Anish Desai (45) was the top-scorer for the visitors as their middle order proved difficult to remove with Sean Beamish removing Desai on his way to 3/24/10 before Hamilton were finally dismissed for 229 in 75.3 overs.