Cricket: ND win one-day final

BJ Watling scored his highest one-day total of 145 not out as ND beat Auckland by 21 runs. Photo / Getty Images

Young allrounder Kane Williamson confirmed his status as a New Zealand cricket star of the future as he led Northern Districts to the domestic one-day title with a 21-run win over Auckland today.

Williamson cracked 69 off 71 balls in Northern's imposing total of 304 for three at Auckland's Colin Maiden Park, then ripped through the Auckland middle order with his offspin, taking five for 51 as the hosts were dismissed for 283.

The performance confirmed the 19-year-old as a runaway winner of the competition's MVP title, having racked up 552 runs at an average of 79 before today.

Test opener BJ Watling was the other star for Northern, racking up his highest domestic one-day score of 145 not out as he batted through the innings after Auckland opted to bowl first.

Northern successfully defended the title they won against Otago a year ago, and became the first side since Canterbury in 1999-2000 to win back-to-back domestic one-day crowns.

"I said to the boys that we deserved to be in the final but we had to go out and earn that trophy, and we did that. It was special from BJ and Kane - great with bat and ball - and to all the guys I couldn't ask for anything more... it was just fantastic and I was proud to captain the side," captain James Marshall said before hoisting the trophy aloft.

Auckland cruised into the final with an eight-wicket win over Northern but again tasted disappointment in their third final in the past four years, having won in 2006-07.

"Northern deserved to win it, two times in a row is no mean feat," captain Gareth Hopkins said.

"Two finals, two losses is pretty tough but we've played some pretty good cricket this year... it'll make us stronger and more determined to come back and convert these finals in future."

Both sides were without a brace of internationals who were ordered to rest by New Zealand Cricket; Northern pair Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee, and Auckland's Martin Guptill and Daryl Tuffey.

Needing a tick over six runs per over, Auckland were always behind the eight-ball in their chase on a good batting surface.

Northern were brilliant in the field, with Watling starting things off with a sharp diving catch to remove Reece Young.

Test opener Tim McIntosh and English import Ravi Bopara added 77 for the second wicket before Williamson went to work, removing McIntosh stumped for 50 and Bopara caught for the top score of 62.

Recalled international Scott Styris, on four, was the big wicket as Williamson enticed a leading edge and James Marshall snared a diving chance.

Hopkins, Lou Vincent, Anaru Kitchen and Colin de Grandhomme all chipped in with 30s but it wasn't enough as Northern pacemen Graeme Aldridge and Bradley Scott kept their cool at the end with the run rate mounting.

Watling's 158-ball knock was a timely one ahead of next month's two-test series against Australia, after his dual failures against Bangladesh.

He added 98 for the first wicket with Daniel Flynn, then 163 in 25 overs with Williamson.

Watling paced his innings superbly, reaching his half-century off 84 balls and his fifth domestic one-day century off 131 deliveries.

He stepped it up in the dying overs, hitting 16 fours and two sixes in all.

Auckland's bowlers were too loose early on, with Styris the only one to stem the run flow with figures of one for 41 off 10 overs.

- NZPA