19 Feb 2009

Bond stars, Oram back with a sharp 51

11:29 pm on 19 February 2009

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond was the difference as Canterbury beat Northern Districts in a crunch State Twenty20 match in Hamilton.

Both sides made 171 in their time at the crease at Seddon Park with Northern sent the visitors in to bat and needed 14 off the final over.

They reached that in four balls with two deliveries remaining to score the match winner, yet couldn't get bat on ball, sending the match to a one-over eliminator.

Bond was selected to deliver the "Super over" and kept his nerve as Northern could only manage six runs, then their bowler Trent Boult was hit for six by Shannan Stewart off his first ball and a single off the next handing Canterbury the win.

The result puts Canterbury in outright third and still in the hunt for a finals berth while Northern are still without a win after six rounds.

In Dunedin Otago beat Central Districts by five wickets, making 189 for five in reply to Central's 185 for six with Jacob Oram's return marked by a quickfire 51 off 27 balls.

In the other game in the capital Auckland beat Wellington at the Basin Reserve, also by five wickets.

Black Cap Martin Guptill was the hero for Auckland with 43 off 21 balls.