Devcich stars as Knights qualify
IAN ANDERSON
Anton Devcich’s match-winning innings sent a ‘‘don’t forget me’’ plea to the national Twenty20 selection brains trust.
Devcich thumped 76 off 37 balls opening for the Northern Knights as they chased down Auckland’s 202-5 with relative ease in their Super Smash T20 match in Auckland yesterday.
The 32-year-old has played four T20 matches for New Zealand but none since December 2014.
After hammering five sixes and eight fours to propel the visitors to a six-wicket win to seal their spot in the finals, Devcich is now the second biggest scorer in the competition this summer. He’s also featured with the ball, taking 11 wickets at 18.45 with a RPO of less than seven while often bowling in the powerplays.
The Knights increased their lead at the top of the table, with 26 points from nine outings and improved their chances of securing the title for the second time.
After Devcich departed, Daniel Flynn (58 not out off 30 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (50no off 22) added an unbroken 78 for the fifth wicket off just 37 deliveries at Eden Park’s Outer Oval.
Auckland’s Mark Chapman was another to make a claim for elevation to the Black Caps T20 squad when he made 57 off 30 balls.
With English import Sam Curran adding a rapid unbeaten 48 at No 7, the Aces looked in the box seat before Devcich took over.
The 23-year-old Hong Kong-born left-hander is the third-most prolific batsman in the T20 competition this
season (behind Knights openers Tim Seifert and Devcich), more importantly has a sensational strike-rate of over 170 and is clearly on the radar of national selector Gavin Larsen.
Returning Black Cap allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, back in action following the death of his
father in Zimbabwe, could have easily departed first ball but only got to five before being run out. Black Caps. Knights legspinner Ish Sodhi topopk 2-35 off four overs while leftarm spinner Anton Devcich (1-23 off three) and English import Chris Jordan (0-29 off four) were effective.