Honours even after day one
Monday, 19 March 2012
Bruce Martin picked up 2/90
The Aces made two late strikes to tilt the balance back to even on day one of their Plunket Shield game with Northern Districts yesterday.
The Knights were looking good at 250/4 with both Daniel Flynn and Anton Devcich set. But Mitchell McClenaghan managed to dislodge Devcich to break a 92 run partnership and then Michael Bates removed Peter McGlashan just nine runs later to put a different complexion on the game at 266/6.
The Aces worked hard all day against a Northern top order that all contributed and in particular Flynn, who remained unbeaten on 68 at the end of the day.
Flynn, who has been named in the Black Caps squad for the third test against South Africa, struck seven fours and one six off 119 balls to guide the Knights to 266 for six when bad light forced an early close at Colin Maiden Park.
Others among the runs included opener Brad Wilson, who made 54 in just under two hours, Hamish Marshall with a boundary-laden 49, and Devcich with 42.
One batsman to miss out was James Marshall, who marked his record 116th first-class appearance for the Knights by making 13 before offering a catch off spinner Bruce Martin.
Martin ended the day with figures of two for 90 off 23 overs while fast bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Michael Bates also picked up two wickets apiece.
Full scorecard