Williamson in the runs as ND win At a glance
Kane Williamson rarely fails in consecutive innings.
That’s why it was little surprise the Black Caps skipper was in the runs for Northern Districts as they opened the Plunket Shield with an eight-wicket win over Otago inside three days at Mt Maunganui yesterday.
Williamson warmed up for New Zealand’s tour of the UAE against Pakistan, starting at the end of October, with 83 in the second innings, which included 13 fours and a six.
It will be Williamson’s only appearance for ND before the Black Caps depart as he sits out their second round match against Canterbury at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, beginning next Wednesday.
ND might be the lone team to bank a win in the first round with rain causing havoc in the other two matches. They collected 16 of the possible 20 points on offer.
No play was possible in Nelson between Canterbury and Central Districts for the second successive day.
Wet weather in the capital caused a day three washout between Wellington and Auckland at the Basin Reserve.
Williamson failed in the first innings, lasting just six balls for one run before he edged one through to wicketkeeper Mitchell Renwick off young quick Nathan Smith.
He combined for a 139-run second wicket stand in the second innings with opener Henry Cooper as ND comfortably chased down their target of 204, losing just two wickets.
Williamson looked poised for his 29th first-class century, but fell 17 Scores after day three:
At Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui: Otago 108 and 231 (Hamish Rutherford 115, Shawn Hicks 47, Christi Viljoen 33; Neil Wagner 4-75) lost to Northern Districts 136 and 204-2 (Kane Williamson 83, Henry Cooper 66no ) by eight wickets.
At Basin Reserve, Wellington: Wellington 255 met Auckland 230-5.
At Saxton Oval, Nelson: Central Districts 301-7 met Canterbury.
runs short, holing out to Jacob Duffy off the bowling of left-arm wrist spinner Michael Rippon.
Cooper saw ND home, notching an unbeaten 66, featuring 10 boundaries.
ND’s victory was the perfect start for their new four-day and one-day coach John Bracewell, who guided the Black Caps from 2003 to 2008.
They fielded a star-studded side for the Plunket Shield opener with Black Caps Williamson, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult all named, as well as former New Zealand players Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn.
Wagner, Sodhi and de Grandhomme will play their second round match against Canterbury before heading to the UAE. Black Caps fast bowler Tim Southee is also set to play, depending on his recovery from a minor knee injury.
Test seamer Wagner had a memorable debut for ND against his former Otago team-mates, finishing with 7-106 for the match.
Improved weather is forecast for the final day of the CD-Canterbury match in Nelson today, but showers, clearing in the afternoon, are predicted for Wellington.