The gentle pace of Scott Styris and Roneel Hira proved a major menace as Auckland beat Northern Districts by 18 runs and moved atop the Twenty20 domestic cricket standings today.
Veteran allrounder Styris claimed three for 15 and he was eclipsed by spinner Hira's four for 13 as Northern were restricted to 136 for nine at Auckland's Colin Maiden Park.
The visitors stuttered through the middle of their chase for the 154 which Auckland reached before being dismissed in the final over. Styris was a key performer there for the winners as well, his 59 off 38 balls a class above any other innings.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori took two for 17 off his four overs on a surface that best suited the slow men but he and countless other big guns couldn't get going with the bat.
Imported Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored for Northern with 26 before he became the first of Styris' victims.
Auckland are now level with Otago and Central Districts while Northern are one win behind the leading group with two rounds to play before the competition final.
