Defending champion Auckland signalled their intention to retain their title of Twenty20 kings, claiming a tight three-wicket win over Northern Districts at Colin Maiden Park today.
More than 4000 fans turned out on a sunny Boxing Day for the second round HRV Cup clash and the Aces didn't disappoint their home support, chasing down the Knights' 155-5 with an over to spare.
The win was marred by a blood-soaked Andre Adams being forced to leave the field after copping the full force of a Tim Southee bouncer to his face, but some heroic batting from Auckland's tail-enders would have lessened Adams' pain.
After Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins won the toss and sent the visitors into bat, Northern openers Brad Wilson and BJ Watling adopted an accumulative rather than aggressive approach. That strategy proved productive as the Knights were well-placed for a huge total after seven overs, reaching 63 without loss.
But the Aces reclaimed momentum in the 10th over, coinciding with the introduction of their slower bowlers. Left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira made the breakthrough in his first over, turning one away from Watling (18 from 22) and clipping the bails.
Wilson joined him in the pavilion the next over, after Adams snuck one through his gate to dismiss the opener for a well-made 45 from 27. The double-blow put the brakes on Northern's innings, as Anton Devcich and Hamish Marshall looked to consolidate their team's innings.
Just as the partnership threatened to prosper, Auckland struck through left-arm quick Michael Bates. He yorked Devcich (19 off 14) to reduce the Knights to 98-3 and Marshall soon followed to further halt Northern's momentum.
Scott Styris and Corey Anderson struggled to hit out in the death overs with both Bates and Azhar Mahmood bowling effectively. Bates bowled Anderson in the penultimate over and Mahmood conceded only nine runs from the final over to restrict Northern to 155 for 5.
Martin Guptill got Auckland's chase off to the perfect start, hitting Kane Williamson for six on the second ball of the innings to set the tone for the early overs, with Auckland bringing up their 50 from just 30 balls.
But once Graeme Aldridge dismissing the dangerous Guptill for 27 the clamp was put on Auckland's free-swinging, and that clamp was tightened with Devcich's first ball which trapped Brad Cachopa (25 off 16) in front.
That began three successful overs in a row for Northern's bowlers, as Mahmood was run out by Williamson while attempting a suicide single and Devcich grabbed his second LBW with Anaru Kitchen the victim.
The wicket spree reduced Auckland to 79-4 after 10 overs, but it also brought the big-hitting Colin de Grandhomme to the crease. He immediately gave the Knights a taste of his power in taking 20 from Styris' third over to leave Auckland in control.
But the Knights charged back into the contest, dismissing Gareth Hopkins (17 off 17) and de Grandhomme (35 off 25) in the space of three balls. Adams retired hurt the next over and, when Hira was caught behind for a golden duck, Auckland were in trouble with 21 needed from three overs and three wickets in hand.
With the Aces still needing 13 from the final two, Tim Southee's clutch bowling from the Knights' round one win deserted him, as he conceded three wides to put Auckland within reach. Auckland didn't let the opportunity slip, with Colin Munro (14 off 11) and Kyle Mills (4 off 4) seeing them home with an over to spare, helped hugely by the 16 extra balls the Knights had to bowl due to 14 wides and two no-balls.
