Cricket: Triumph for City

City's Max Trimble fires a ball down the runway against Kaipara Flats in the NCA Northland T20 final. Photo/ John Stone

A handy three-wicket bag for Jason Smith and a knock of 34 from Craig Little helped City to a seven wicket win over Kaipara Flats in the NCA Northland T20 final at Cobham Oval.

Steering the ship to safety in the second innings, Little's steady first wicket partnership with left-hand batsman Joey Yovich was the first instalment of City's reply to Kaipara's first innings total of 108/8.

Followed up with 17 not out from No3 James Thompson and 20 runs from captain Ian Page, City proved a handful for the Kaipara fielders and bowlers as they struggled to find a way to tighten the noose.

City Bowler Craig Little knocks the bails off to end another Kaipara Flats batsmans efforts at the crease. Little also high-scored for City with 34 runs off 25 balls. Photo/ John Stone

Celebrating into the early hours of Sunday morning Page said City's win has been "four years in the making".

"We've had a few lean seasons so it's good looking ahead for the remainder of the summer.

"We've [also] got a really great coach in Karl Treiber and it's just a case of having a really good club culture this year.

"Some of the boys were a bit worse for wear this morning but it's been a long time between drinks so you've got to enjoy it when you can."

Disappointed in his side's efforts with the bat, Kaipara's Kevin Forde said a win would have been ideal after making the Northland T20 final for the sixth time in-a-row.

"We've got out of jail a few times with our bowling attack, we always back our bowling unit, but we needed to score more runs," he said.

Despite this, Forde was complimentary of City's fortitude to take the T20 series.

"They were the easy beats last year but they've obviously done some background work and recruited well ... they'll be formidable in all formats of the game this summer."

Scoring 34 runs from 38 balls in the first innings, Kaipara's Ewen Thompson carried on his impressive T20 form to be the pick of the Kaipara order.

Highlighting Thompson's score of 65 in round two, as well as attaining another good knock against Whangarei BHS on Saturday in round five, Forde added it was great to have the former Central Districts player back for Kaipara as they head into this summer's Lion Red 2015/16 and Oxford Trust 2 Day competitions.

City 112/3 (Craig Little 34, Joey Yovich 31; Luke Beaven 2-29, Kevin Forde 1-22)

Kaipara Flats

108/8 (Ewen

Thompson 34, Mike Allot 28; Jason Smith 3-9, Ben Smith 2-12).