Cricket: Valuable lessons learned inside Indian cauldrons

Scott Kuggeleijn. Photo / Getty Images

Northern Districts were trounced by Hobart and Punjab last week but the overall assessment of their Champions League appearance should be one of optimism.

Barring a run-rate miracle against Barbados on Wednesday, ND will exit the tournament from the group stage like their predecessors Otago, Auckland and Central Districts.

Yet the experience gained by younger players in the sweltering, cacophonous cauldrons of India will have offered valuable insight into what's required when playing in the Subcontinent.

Yesterday morning, 21-year-old Ish Sodhi and Scott Kuggeleijn, 22, were exposed to some of the world's best players.

Sodhi kept his composure after getting whacked for consecutive sixes by Punjab opener Manan Vohra. Vohra's third attempt caught high on the bat for a catch at deep mid-wicket and Sodhi recovered to concede 13 runs and take the wicket of Glenn Maxwell in his final two overs.

Kuggeleijn thumped Virender Sehwag on the pads adjacent to the stumps for an unforgettable lbw and, while expensive at times, never yielded.

It mightn't sound much but the pair helped restrict Punjab from 132 for one in the 12th over to 175-4 by the end of the 17th. A potentially gigantic total had been downsized to enormous at 215-5.

Northern Districts were rolled for just 95 in the 16th over in reply, and lost their last six batsmen for 21 runs, with legspinner Karanveer Singh the main beneficiary, taking four wickets for just 15 runs.

Northern Districts now sit fourth in their group with a net run rate of -3.655 and would require a huge win over the Barbados Tridents to have any chance of making the semifinals.

"It's very disappointing," Northern skipper Daniel Flynn said. "We showed a lack of knowledge, or lack of experience, in these conditions. They bowled very well but we didn't adapt as well as we should have.

"It's very disappointing but, on the flipside, there's a young group in that middle order who will take a lot from the experience."

Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and BJ Watling took responsibility as senior players for most of the tournament, but struggled in the last couple of games. Watling's dropped attempt off Maxwell was a disturbing rarity, although the dangerous batsman was out cheaply for just seven.

Anton Devcich arguably made the biggest gains with his assertive top-order batting, just when the New Zealand team needs an opener for the World Cup.

New Zealand franchises enter the Champions League under the double handicap of having to qualify for the main draw and potentially lose players to stronger franchises who can offer more money.

But the tournament is a useful experience for fledgling provincial players. Any time a New Zealand cricketer is figuring out ways to thwart the bats of Michael Hussey and Hashim Amla, or attack the deliveries of Lasith Malinga and Vernon Philander is beneficial.