Cricket: Rain aids ND and Canterbury

James Marshall, Northern Districts cricket captain. Photo / APN

Rain across the country ruined all three Ford Trophy one-day cricket matches today but there was enough time for James Marshall and Brendon Diamanti to post centuries.

Play was abandoned before a ball was even bowled in the Central Districts and Otago match in Nelson and the Duckworth Lewis method decided the other two contests, with Northern Districts and Canterbury handed the points.

Northern Districts posted an excellent total of 327 for five in their 50 overs against Wellington at the Basin Reserve, thanks largely to an anchoring innings of 110 not out from Marshall, and won by 27 runs under the Duckworth Lewis system.

The former international put together a 103-run partnership with his brother Hamish, who scored 64, before cameos from Scott Styris (50 from 40 balls) and Corey Anderson (74 from 31 balls).

Anderson's explosive innings included four four and six sixes and only Andy McKay (3-32 in eight overs) and Luke Woodcock (2-40 in 10 overs) escaped heavy punishment.

Wellington were 221-6 after 38 overs in reply when rain began falling. Michael Papps scored a handy 52 and Harry Boam was on 49 not out but they still needed to score at 8.92 an over for 13 overs when the players scampered from the Basin. Boam, in particular, was striking the ball well at the time, giving Wellington some hope they could pull off an unlikely win.

The game at Colin Maiden Park was heading for a close finish when rain interrupted and gifted Canterbury the win.

Auckland had been in all sorts of trouble when they slumped to 7-3 in their chase of 240 for victory but recovered to be 138-5 after 28.1 overs and would have fancied their chances.

Gareth Hopkins was well set on 55 not out for the Aces and they still had some batting left at their disposal but they lost by six runs under the Duckworth Lewis method.

Canterbury's Brendon Diamanti was the star of the show, however, hitting an unbeaten 102 which included four fours and seven sixes in an innings which lasted only 79 balls. The 30-year-old former international has recently transferred to Canterbury after a number of years at Central Districts and has immediately showed his worth.

They were in some trouble at 81-4 when he strode to the crease and scored his century on the second-last ball he faced. Only Gareth Worker (36) and Tom Latham (34) produced scores of any substance.

Michael Bates picked up four wickets for Auckland but his 10 overs cost 79 runs.

Auckland still lead the table on 15 points from Otago and Canterbury on 13 in second after five rounds. The competition takes a break with the start of the Twenty20 competition on Sunday before a full round on Boxing Day.