Matt Taylor was economical with the ball as Northland secured a comfortable seven wicket win over Auckland A at Cobham Oval. Photo/Andrew Johnsen
A record-breaking partnership between Ben Hyde and Henry Cooper provided the catalyst for Northland's comfortable seven wicket win over Auckland A at Cobham Oval.
On a good deck, the visitors elected to bat first and were immediately put under the pump by opening bowlers Kyran Dill and Sean Beamish.
Dill provided the initial breakthrough at 26-1, then first change bowler Caleb Boswell-Smith took his first wicket for Northland to leave Auckland two down after 10 overs.
The introduction of Kurtley Watson gave Northland their third wicket after a sharp bit of wicket-keeping from Rory Christopherson.
In a little bit of trouble at 90-3, Auckland consolidated through the fourth wicket pairing of Will O'Donnell and Dale Phillips.
After Russell was brought back into the attack, Hyde hit three sixes as they hit him for 32 in his three over spell.
Their partnership reached 201 before its demise. This broke the 25 year old Northland record for a second-wicket stand, surpassing that of Murray Child and Craig Preseland back in the 1991/92 season.
St John took Hyde's wicket at 245-2, but the damage had been done.
Losing only one more wicket, Northland got home with four overs to spare.
Northland will next take Hamilton in a two-dayer at Cobham Oval on November 12-13.