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State Twenty20
Auckland remain on course for final
Cricinfo staff
January 28, 2008
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Scott Styris on the attack during Auckland's win over Wellington
© Getty Images
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Auckland kept alive their hopes of defending the State Twenty20 title with a six-wicket win over Wellington at Eden Park., but they left it late, squeezing home with only two balls to spare when Gareth Hopkins slashed a six over extra cover.
Auckland's experienced attack was unable to peg back Wellington who reached 182 for 7, an innings built on Jesse Ryder's 27-ball 66 and then given a late boost by Graham Napier's 48 from 19 balls.
Wellington had to restrict Auckland to under 105 to have any chance of reaching the final themselves, but on a batsman-friendly pitch that was never likely. Scott Styris and Lou Vincent added 96 for the third wicket off 9.2 overs, but Styris' dismissal checked what was until then a routine chase. Auckland needed 20 from two overs and 11 off the last, bowled by Napier, but Hopkins clobbered a four and then the match-winning six.
At the weekend, Northern Districts slipped to second place after losing by 19 runs to Canterbury in Christchurch, Johann Myburgh's 68 - the only fifty of the match - the difference between the sides in a low-scoring contest.
Central Districts took over at the top of the table with an easy six-wicket defeat of bottom side Otago in New Plymouth, coasting to the target of 173 with four overs in hand.
| Team |
Mat |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
N/R |
Pts |
Net RR |
For |
Against |
| Central Dist |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
+2.072 |
768/76.0 |
640/79.4 |
| Northern Dis |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
+0.306 |
793/94.2 |
810/100.0 |
| Canterbury |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
-0.673 |
658/100.0 |
706/97.2 |
Wellington |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
-0.552 |
735/94.2 |
794/95.1 |
| Auckland |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
-0.668 |
604/79.4 |
660/80.0 |
| Otago |
5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
-0.064 |
739/100.0 |
687/92.1 |
Auckland now need to beat Central Districts in the last match on Wednesday, and do so convincingly enough to lift their net run-rate above that of Northern Districts. If they manage that then they will again meet Central Districts in the final next Sunday.
© Cricinfo
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