Cricket: Knights get off to mixed start

HOME SOIL: Northern Knights captain Daniel Flynn (right) is set to lead a strong side against the Wellington Firebirds and Otago Volts at Bay Oval today.PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

The first of the Northern Knights' upcoming Ford Trophy matches at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval today has taken on greater significance following a mixed start to the competition.

The Knights, who beat the Central Stags by 13 runs at Pukekura Park on Tuesday after posting 297/9, began their campaign with an opening round 222-run loss to Otago last week.

The batting effort against the Stags was pleasing for ND, who improved markedly on their opening round score of just 113 against Otago to post a competitive total in the bid for a road win, with the much-hyped Mitchell Santner especially impressive in compiling 86 from just 66 deliveries.

He combined with Jono Hickey (67) to set a total that Central, despite a century from George Worker, could not chase down as seven wickets fell to the spin trio of Ish Sodhi (2/64), Jono Boult (3/64) and Santner (2/39).

Four Bay of Plenty players have been named in the Knights squad for this week's two Ford Trophy matches at Bay Oval, beginning with the match against defending champions Wellington Firebirds today.

Daniel Flynn will again lead a 12-strong unit featuring fellow Bay players Aldridge, Boult and Joe Carter at a venue the Knights have struggled to win at in recent seasons, meaning Bay of Plenty Indians batsman Bharat Popli has missed out.

Flynn who has compiled 5961 first- class runs including 2290 in the 50-over format, will be looking to end that trend in 2015.

The Firebirds are winless after the opening two rounds, but produced a much-improved showing in Tuesday's narrow loss to Otago. James Franklin's unbeaten 98 was not enough to get the Firebirds home in the pursuit of Otago's 286, which was built on the back of a powerful 119 from Nathan McCullum.