Auckland have comprehensively beaten Northern Districts by 82 runs in the fifth round of the Ford Trophy played at Cobham Oval. 

Auckland Captain Craig Cachopa won the toss and opted to bat first.  Openers Graeme Beghin and Jeet Raval got Auckland off to a promising start before Beghin was bowled by Zak Gibson with the score at 43 in the 9th over.  After the wickets of Raval (38)and Glenn Phillips (25), promising middle order batsman Sean Solia and Mark Chapman combined for a 4th wicket partnership of 57 before Solia was trapped lbw off the bowling of spinner Joe Walker.  A 5th wicket partnership of 85 at better than a run of ball between Chapman and Craig Cachopa continued the momentum for the Aces.  Chapman was eventually dismissed for 71 off 63 balls.  After the loss of Cachopa (46) with the score at 241 in the 44th over, Michael Barry (28) and Dean Grobbelaar (20) played cameo innings as Auckland posted an impressive 299 off their 50 overs.  Leading Ford Trophy wicket taker Brent Arnel continued his good form with 3 for 47 off 9 overs. 

In reply, openers BJ Watling (33) and Tim Seifert (42) got Northern Districts off to a good start before Watling was dismissed by Sean Solia with the score at 64 in the 15th over.

After the wicket of Seifert, Northern Districts lost wickets at regular intervals as leg spinner Terun Nethula made inroads into the middle order with the vital wickets of experienced batsman Anton Devcich (1), Captain Dean Brownlie (17) and Scott Kuggleleijn (1).  Northern Districts had slumped to 137 for 6 in the 31st over. Daryl Mitchell continued his fine Ford Trophy season with 50 and was the final wicket to fall as Northern Districts were dismissed for 217 in the 45th over.  Nethua would end up with the impressive figures of 5 for 57 while Michael Barry claimed four wickets. 

Northern Districts now sit in third place on the Ford Trophy table with twelve points after five rounds.  They will remain at Whangarei to play Canterbury in the sixth round of the competition starting on the 4th of February. 

Match report courtesy of Adam Bell on behalf of NDCA.