Cricket: Mills gets through trial on fitness in fine shape

Kyle Mills of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Kyle Mills came through what amounted to a New Zealand fitness confirmation trial in good shape as Auckland won a last-ball Ford Trophy thriller against Northern Districts in the sunshine at Eden Park yesterday.

Mills, giving his repaired groin niggle a good workout, bowled a tidy opening six-over spell, dismissing Anton Devcich for just nine runs, finishing with one for 31 from his 10 overs.

ND, on the back of Dean Brownlie's 118 in 130 balls, reached 300 for seven.

Auckland, needing the win to be sure of finishing in the top two and guaranteeing a Ford Trophy second life in the playoffs, needed 101 off the last 10 overs and got there with a boundary off the final ball by seamer Matt Quinn.

Craig Cachopa hit a brisk 80 and Colin de Grandhomme 37 off 17 balls.

Captain Michael Bates was out off the penultimate delivery from Anurag Verma, with two needed.

In Dunedin, leaders Central Districts got up in a tense finale over Otago, courtesy of an unbeaten 114 off 115 balls by Kruger van Wyk.

Chasing Otago's 255, CD were in difficulties at 60 for four.

However, van Wyk and Dane Cleaver put on 112 for the fifth wicket and CD won with five balls to spare.

A big hundred from Henry Nicholls, with a Canterbury List A record 178 off 161 balls, helped lay waste to bottom side Wellington.

Nicholls shared a 291-run second wicket stand with Neil Broom, who hit 117 at better than run-a-ball rate and pushed Canterbury to their third highest 50-over total, 356 for three.

Veteran James Franklin collected 102 in 87 balls, but Wellington were no chance, being dismissed for 271, losing by 85 runs. Stephen Murdoch had been Wellington's other hope, but he hit a long-hop straight to the fielder at square leg on 55.

Points going into the final round: Central Districts 26, Auckland 24, Otago 15, Northern Districts 12, Canterbury 10, Wellington 5.