Northern Districts maintained their perfect start to the HRV Cup season with a six-wicket win over Central Districts in Hamilton tonight.
Set 150 to win, Northern were in early trouble, slumping to 20-3 as Peter Trego and Ben Wheeler made early inroads but Steven Croft (59 not out) and Scott Styris (46) steadied the ship.
The pair put on 80 for the fourth wicket, and took 16 off one Kieran Noema-Barnett over, but Styris was caught in front by Wheeler when he looked poised to steer Northern home.
Croft took over following Styris' departure, bringing up his 50 off 42 balls, but fellow English professional James Foster took the game away from Central with an explosive innings of 26 not out from 12 balls.
It was a lot closer than it looked earlier in the evening.
Central were 49-4 at the halfway mark of their innings and 80 for five after 15 overs but a blistering innings by Carl Cachopa ensured they set a competitive score of 149 for six off their 20 overs.
Cachopa smacked five fours and four sixes in his knock of 64 off 33 balls and found support from Kieran Noema-Barnett (15) and Martin Kain (12).
Anton Devcich (1-15 from four overs), Styris (1-20 off four) and Croft (2-12 off two) were the pick of the Northern bowlers.
