State Auckland Aces win State Championship

The State Auckland Aces have won the State Championship, despite finishing the season today with a closely fought loss against the State Northern Districts Knights.

In a high scoring match Auckland (294/7 dec and 340) were defeated by 16 runs by Northern Districts (298 and 352/9 dec). A second innings century to Test opener Mark Richardson (113) brought them close but it was not quite enough to provide Auckland with victory.

However Auckland had already been assured the Championship earlier in the day after the State Wellington Firebirds were defeated by nine wickets in Alexandra by the State Otago Volts.

Wellington needed an outright victory to draw ahead of Auckland.