Match Report
The Knights are New Zealand's 2018 Burger King Super Smash champions, and they mopped it up in a phenomenal style with an utterly one-sided nine-wicket victory over the Central Stags.
The top qualifiers were in the box seat midway through the big game after restricting the Stags to 99 on a slow deck - the ball swinging at the top in the humid conditions, but the Stags largely only with themselves to blame for digging themselves into a mire after their top and middle order stars fell over like dominoes.
Dane Cleaver might count his dismissal unlucky, but the team situation left Ajaz Patel (11 not out) and Bevan Small (21 not out) to tough out the final five overs from a predicament of 69 for eight.
George Worker was the only batsman to garner a score of note, knuckling down for a promising 37 off 33 as the carnage went on around him - starting with the loss of opening partner Jesse Ryder in the first over after captain Will Young had won the toss and batted.
Worker was crucially stopped by a brilliant one-handed leap from Knights captain Dean Brownlie, bowler Anton Devcich leading a raucous celebration from the team.
Seddon Park was warm - it felt like 30 degrees in the middle - the weather had come to the party and the stage was set for a fantastic contest, but even so - with a short landslide of a game - the 5000-strong crowd of pink-clad supporters went home very happy.
BLACKCAPS legspinner Ish Sodhi's 2-15 off his four was outstanding and his fiery competitiveness exemplified the home side's intention to deliver in the crunch match.
Anton Devcich (an unbeaten 51 off 24) meanwhile spun in for 3-16 as the Knights did an ocean of damage to the Stags through the middle, while Scott Kuggeleijn's pace earlier quickly accounted for the big wickets of form horse Young and BLACKCAP Tom Bruce, whose ability to score quickly was missed as the Stags' order for once unravelled.
Chasing exactly 100 to win, the Knights should not have had too many nerves at halftime but if there were any, they were quickly eased by Devcich and Tim Seifert (23) who got them off to a fast start.
Seifert's was the only wicket to fall, but by then the Knights were already almost a third of a way through their run chase and the brief moment of jubilation for Blair Tickner quickly turned to custard as Dean Brownlie (28 not out off 17) and Devcich combined to slaughter him for five fours off the fifth over.
They then turned on another of the summer's top wicket-takers, spinner Ajaz Patel, slapping him for four every single ball off the following over: 10 boundaries in a row all up, with the fire cannons working overtime to the delight of the home crowd.
By the end of those rousing two overs, the Knights needed just 23 further runs to win, a formality as they hurtled to a special win 11.1 overs to spare.
It was a first-up victory for Knights coach Gareth Hopkins and a pleasant case of déja vu for several of this Knights team that had been involved in the 2014 title win on this same ground - the likes of Sodhi, Kuggelelijn and Daryl Mitchell.
Brent Arnel meanwhile is the only man in New Zealand who could call himself a back to back national T20 champion after having won this title with the Wellington Firebirds last year.
That one last four from Devcich saw him pip Stags captain Will Young as the season's top run-maker while Tickner could only console himself with being the summer's runaway top wicket-taker as refocuses now on New Zealand's other domestic white ball comp, The Ford Trophy.
The Stags are currently narrowly leading that competition, and after today they'll be rock-hard determined not to be bridesmaids yet again.
The Knights will be chasing a home grand final and top spot of the Burger King Super Smash on Sunday when they face the Canterbury Kings. A win will award the Knights 4 points to finish on 30 points, clear of the field and securing a home grand final on Saturday 20th January at Seddon Park. A loss will mean that all eyes will turn to the Aces vs Volts match, also on Sunday. A win for the Aces (24 points) will secure the Aces a home Grand Final and the Knights will then host the elimination final on Wednesday 17th January at Seddon Park.
The Knights last took home the Super Smash title in 2013/14.
Knights vs Canterbury Kings:
Dean Brownlie ©, Bay of Plenty
Brent Arnel, Hamilton
Anton Devcich, Hamilton
Daniel Flynn, Bay of Plenty
Brett Hampton, Bay of Plenty
Chris Jordan, Import
Scott Kuggeleijn, Hamilton
Nick Kelly, Counties Manukau
Daryl Mitchell, Hamilton
Brett Randell, Northland
Tim Seifert, Waikato Valley
Ish Sodhi, Counties Manukau
BJ Watling, Hamilton
The final 12 will be confirmed on Sunday.
The Burger King Super Smash Knights vs Canterbury Kings, Seddon Park, Hamilton, Sunday 14th January, match starts 2.00pm, gates open 1.00pm.
Tim Seifert smashed his way to the fastest ever T20 century in New Zealand.
The Knights will have a new international import to boost their ranks. Barbados born, English international Chris Jordan will join the Knights from round 3 of the Burger King Super Smash. The right-arm fast bowler debuted for England in 2013 in the final ODI of the five match series against Australia in 2013, and has since featured in 8 Tests, 31 ODI's and 26 T20I's. The 29 year old has also made appearances in 2016 for the Adelaide Strikers (BB 3/24) in the Big Bash League and the Royal Challengers and Sunrisers Hyderabad (BB 4/11) in the IPL.
Known to be an effective death bowler, CEO of Northern Districts Cricket Ben MacCormack is thrilled to have the import join the Knights for the Burger King Super Smash. "Watching Chris Jordan perform in the other leagues, we know how entertaining he can be and we are really excited to have him representing us - he will be great for the fans and is a fantastic addition to our bowling line-up."
Current Adelaide Striker and former Australia international Ben Laughlin is returning to the Knights team for the opening Burger King Super Smash matches.
Ben will enjoy his fifth season with the Knights and will join the team on Wednesday in preparation for the first match against the Firebirds at Seddon Park next Friday night.
Right arm medium pacer Laughlin has proved to be a quality performer in his visits to New Zealand in previous years. He has played 17 games for the Knights, and has picked up 24 wickets at an economy of 6.91 All in all he has taken 124 wickets in 100 domestic and international T20's. His best ever figures was with the Knights against the Wellington Firebirds in 2013 - a staggering 6/28 from four overs.
Laughlin is available for the first two matches before his Big Bash commitments commence, including the first match under lights at the Bay Oval on Saturday 16th December.
Gareth Hopkins, who is debuting in his coaching role for the Knights is looking forward to working with Laughlin saying "Ben's experience and skills make him a valuable inclusion to the side for our campaign, I am very pleased to have him with us for our first weekend of the competition."
Ben MacCormack, new CEO for Northern Districts Cricket says that the Knights are also negotiating with another international talent to add to their playing line-up later into the Super Smash season. "We are very close to making another world class signingthat will have the fans very excited, we hope to announceover the coming days."
Former ND and BLACKCAP Gareth Hopkins joins the Knights as the new head coach.
Northern Districts will look to follow on their winning form in Monday's clash against Auckland.
The 2016/2017 Schedule has been released.
Northern Districts Cricket will have a naming
shift this summer with the Knights brand to be used purely for the SUPER SMASH
T20 competition.
Bharat Popli cleans up at the Annual Northern Districts Cricket Awards.
Seriously ill children and their families enjoyed the welcome distraction of cricket during a fun-filled morning with members from Northern Districts Cricket teams on Saturday 19th March.
Northern Districts Cricket and the True Colours Children's Health Trust, a charity organisation which supports seriously ill children and their family members with counselling, nursing care and education, teamed up to hold the event at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
The day included training with the SKYCITY Northern Knights team members, face painting, bouncy castles and a barbeque.
True Colours CEO Cynthia Ward said the event, was a fantastic day for all involved and a great opportunity for families in similar circumstances to network with each other.
"Days like this, give the children and their parents a chance to escape from their reality and provide some fun and "lightness" to their life, and it also allows them to meet other families in similar circumstances and we have seen some lovely connections being made."
"When there is tough stuff happening for a family regarding a child's health condition, it is awesome to have Northern District Cricket acknowledge this and in a very practical way, connect directly with families."
*True Colours Children's Health Trust is a Waikato-based child health care organisation, funded entirely by community generosity. It exists for the sole purpose of supporting children and young people with complex serious illness, and their families. http://truecolours.org.nz/
Attachments areaPreview attachment True Colours Family Fun Day.jpgTrue Colours Family Fun Day.jpg
Northern Districts Pat Malcon and Cliff Dickeson pay tribute to Martin Crowe - one of the greats of New Zealand cricket.
The SKYCITY Northern Knights and the Northern Spirit are holding a special training day for our junior members.
The WHITE FERNS will compete in the Rose Bowl series in a three match series against Australia at the Bay Oval.
Counties- Manukau's top
club side is now Northern Districts' top club team.
Nick Kelly (Counties Manukau) has been awarded his first domestic cricket contract with the SKYCITY Northern Knights.
Hayley Jensen will join the Northern Spirit for the remainder of their Women's Domestic Cricket Season.
For Year 5-8 girls, join us for a Festival of Cricket at Seddon Park, 23rd March.
