Cricket: Knights sound playoffs warning

Northern Knights batsman Travis Birt. Photo / Getty Images

Part one completed, now for the business end.

Auckland are through to the domestic T20 playoffs, and had accomplished that part of their challenge before last night's six-wicket loss to Northern Districts in the final game of the Georgie Pie Super Smash round robin.

ND, who have led the competition for most of the way, finished top qualifiers and face Wellington in the first preliminary final at Seddon Park on Friday night.

The loser of that game then gets a second life against Auckland at the same venue 24 hours later, with the final on Sunday.

Auckland could be left to rue the respective outcomes at Dunedin and Napier yesterday.

When rain washed out Wellington's last game against Otago, they collected two points for the shared result. That took them to 24 points.

Even though Auckland were beaten by ND, they still had a superior run rate to Wellington, .433 to .233.

Still, better to be playing at Seddon Park this week than not.

Auckland got into that position with back-to-back wins over Canterbury. The second a six-wicket victory in Napier on Saturday on the back of some crashing batting by Craig Cachopa, with 49 off 24 balls, and import Luke Wright with a flying 38 off 19. Auckland chased down 153 with more than two overs to spare.

ND, however, were too good last night in Napier. Auckland managed 135 for eight, with Wright and Cachopa again to the fore, with 36 and 32 respectively, as offspinner Jono Boult helped himself to four for 23.

ND reached 136 for four with four balls to spare, captain Daniel Flynn hitting a rapid 50.

Canterbury ended with a flourish, belting Central Districts by eight wickets yesterday.

Final points: ND 30, Wellington 24, Auckland 22, Canterbury 20, Central Districts 14, Otago 10.