Knights edge Aces to reach semis

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The Northern Knights have booked themselves a spot in the Ford Trophy semi-finals after a tense two-wicket win against the Auckland Aces – on the back of a four-wicket haul from Graeme Aldridge.

The veteran seamer was in devastating form at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval yesterday, tearing through the Aces top order to have them at 5-45 in the 10th over. He ended the day with 4-18 off eight overs.


Northern Knights seamer Graeme Aldridge paved the way to a Knights victory with four wickets for 18 runs at the Bay Oval. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

With their innings in tatters early on, a 75-run partnership between Carl Cachopa (51) and Tarun Nethula (41no) helped post an underwhelming total of 160, with Ish Sodhi (2-24 off 10) and Mitchell Santner (2-25 off 9.5) wrapping up the innings in 43.5 overs.

With time to bat before lunch, the Knights looked on course for an straightforward victory, cruising at 38-2 before plunging to 94-4 and then 150-8.

Blackcap Dean brownlie looked good early on, reaching 45 off 73 as the wickets tumbled around him before falling to the bowling of Matt Quinn.

With skipper Daniel Flynn and Darryl Mitchell both back in the pavilion without a run next to their names, BJ Watling added a timely 26 off 56 along with Mitchell Santner's 15 off 32.

But Scott Kuggeleijn helped ease the tension blazing an unbeaten 25 off 26, including three fours and one six, before Jono Boult joined him at the crease with just 11 needed.

The pair managed the final few runs to clinch the two wicket win in 43.3 overs – securing fourth spot in the Ford Trophy standings.

With the Canterbury and Otago match in Rangiora being rained off, the Knights had to win to overtake the Cantabs in the final round robin match.

The win means the Knights travel to Queenstown to play the Otago Volts in the thirds versus fourth sudden-death minor semi-final on Saturday.

The winner of that will travel to face the loser of the first versus second clash, which sees Central Districts host Auckland. CD finished atop the table despite going down to Wellington by 22 runs at the Basin Reserve.

The winner of Stags versus Aces qualifies directly for the final to be played at their home venue on February 1.

The loser of the 1v2 playoff will meet the winner of the 3v4 playoff next Wednesday to determine who joins them.

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