Cricket: Knights douse Firebirds

Tim Southee took 4-18. Photo / Bruce Lim

Northern Districts' international attack proved far too formidable as an overmatched Wellington were humbled in the Plunket Shield yesterday.

Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi combined at Seddon Park to cause carnage in the Wellington ranks, dismissing the Firebirds for 58 as the hosts racked up a 395-run win with a day to spare.

The margin of victory was the province's largest by runs in first-class history, while Wellington's total was their lowest ever against Northern Districts.

Five Wellington batsmen were dismissed for ducks, including an incredible stretch of four in a row as Southee and Boult reduced the visitors from 24-1 to 24-6 in the space of four overs. Southee took 4-18, Boult managed 2-13 and Sodhi 2-9, while Graeme Aldridge (2-10) also got in on the action as only two Firebirds reached double figures.

There was no sign such a one-sided win awaited when the day began, with ND resuming on 198-3 and holding a lead of 304 runs. The timing of the inevitable declaration appeared the only topic of real interest, with Daryl Mitchell (76no) and BJ Watling (61) helping set Wellington 454 for an unlikely victory.

That prospect grew even more improbable as soon as Southee and Boult took the new ball, with opener Brady Barnett top-scoring with 19 before the collapse began. Twenty-six overs later, ND had solidified their spot on top of the standings.

There were similar scenes of ball dominating bat in Rangiora as Canterbury moved into a promising position against Otago. Having started the third day on 176-3 in their first innings, Canterbury's Ronnie Hira continued his transformation into an opening batsman with a maiden first-class century, before the bowlers took control.

Neil Wagner grabbed 5-76 as Canterbury lost their last seven wickets for 34 runs, being dismissed 159 runs in arrears of Otago's first-innings total. But Canterbury soon turned the tables as Otago were skittled for 139, with Hamish Bennett snagging 4-34 as no Otago batsman managed more than 25.

By the end of a day in which 19 wickets fell, Canterbury were on 92-2 and, with Peter Fulton (33no) and Neil Broom (45no) at the crease, needing 207 runs for victory.

Meanwhile, only 17 overs were played in Auckland's clash against Central Districts at Eden Park's outer oval, with the visitors ending the rain-disrupted day on 308-8, leading by 350 runs.