Nicol steers Auckland to final
New Zealand Twenty 20 wrap
Cricinfo staff
29-Jan-2006
Rob Nichol, the right-hand middle-order batsman, scored a boundary off the final ball to steer Auckland to the finals of the inaugural Twenty20 competition, defeating Wellington by five wickets
at the Eden Park Outer Oval on Sunday. Nichol's 78 came off 72 balls with five sixes as Auckland crossed the target of 154 with five wickets to spare.
Earlier, Wellington were put in to bat by Richard Jones, the Auckland captain. Neal Parlane, coming in at number four, top-scored for Wellington with 38. Auckland bowled economically to restrict the opposition to 153 for 7, as Charlie Shreck and Jesse Ryder bowled the first maiden overs recorded in the competition.
Auckland will meet Christchurch in the finals on February 5.