5 Feb 2009

Defending champions beaten in Twenty20 cricket

2:09 pm on 5 February 2009

Reigning State Twenty20 cricket champions Central Districts were beaten in their opening match by Wellington in a rain-affected match in Napier.

Wellington made 160 off 20 overs and when play stopped as rain fall steadily, Central were 63 for four after 10 overs, needing to be 83 to win on the Duckworth Lewis system.

Otago beat Canterbury by 30 runs in Dunedin, making 222 with Nathan McCullum scoring 76 off 42 balls.

Auckland beat State Shield champions Northern Districts by five wickets at Eden Park, chasing down a target of 148 with eight balls to spare.