Steven Croft and Anton Devcich of the Northern Knights embrace after defeating the Wellington Firebirds. Photo / Getty Images
The Jesse Ryder show continued in Mt Maunganui today but he was merely the warmup for the main act, as Northern Districts pair Anton Devcich and Brad Wilson helped their side to an impressive nine-wicket HRV Cup win over Wellington.
Ryder has been in incredible form this summer as he
plays with the sort of freedom that comes with not worrying about his international career, and smacked 62 off just 37 balls to help Wellington set a big total of 197 for four in their 20 overs.
He hit five fours and five sixes and put on 90 for the first wicket with Tamin Iqbal (68 off 49) but his innings was overshadowed in the end by Devcich and Wilson who went on a scoring spree.
Devcich (92 off 57) and Wilson (74 off 49) put on a record 165 for the first wicket before Wilson departed to Ryder's bowling. English professional Steven Croft (17 off 10) then maintained the momentum to ensure ND got home with one over to spare.
The ease of their chase and brutality of their hitting was a treat for the holiday crowd at Bay Oval. None of Wellington's bowlers escaped treatment _ the first two 50s came off 32 balls each but the third 50 came off just 19 deliveries as Devcich and Wilson put the hammer down.
