Northern Districts have won their fourth Twenty20 match from five games to extend their lead at the top of the HRV Cup table with a 23-run victory over the previously unbeaten champions Auckland in a rain-affected clash at Eden Park.
Led by former international Scott Styris, who hit a superb unbeaten 68 off just 26 balls including eight sixes and two fours after the Aces had sent the Knights in to bat on a tame pitch, the visitors made 142 for four in their innings, which was reduced to 12 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis system.
Further drizzle at the change of innings saw Auckland's target reduced to 73 off six overs, but the Aces never got close to achieving the required run-rate that exceeded 12 per over from the start, making 49 for six to lose by 23 runs.
The win sees the Knights bounce back from their loss to Otago in the last round and maintain their lead over the Wellington Firebirds, with their next match against the Central Stags on Saturday in New Plymouth.
The Aces' next match is the Friday night television feature against the second-placed Wellington Firebirds on the main Eden Park oval - the Firebirds fresh from a robust 53-run win over the Central Stags in Wellington.
