By GRAHAM REDDAWAY
Northern Districts won their first game in this season's State League championship when they beat Otago in Hamilton yesterday.
Otago also opened their account for the season when they won the first leg of the double-header on Tuesday and they looked set for a second victory, but a lack
of discipline by their bowling attack (36 wides) proved expensive.
Otago won the opening leg by seven wickets after rain had revised their target from 153 to 118 from 31 overs. They made it with 28 balls to spare.
After they were given a good start by international Paula Flannery (43) their middle-order floundered and they needed an eighth-wicket partnership of 57 by Katey Martin (58) and 16-year-old Courtney Winslow (17) to post a reasonable score of 173.
Maree Hannay was the best of the Northern attack with four for 38, and Megan Murphy ended with three for 38.
Victoria Brown (28) and Nicola Browne (45) started the chase by setting a record opening partnership for Northern against all sides when they posted 88, but wickets fell regularly afterwards.
In their turn at the bowling crease, Otago could not fine a good line, allowing Northern to get home with two wickets and 19 balls in hand.
Both sides opened their accounts after Otago lost both games in Auckland and Northern went down twice to Central Districts in the opening rounds.
