Adams gets the wickets again in close finish

Andre Adams again starred as the Auckland Aces pulled off the first outright result of the new Plunket Shield season in a tense and closely fought affair against the Northern Knights.

The 36-year-old allrounder captured five for 52 as the Aces won the match by 19 runs late on the third day at Whangarei’s Cobham Oval today.

The Knights were dismissed for 244 chasing 264 for victory, a target set for them after 22 wickets tumbled on the second day of the scheduled four-day match.

Their main nemesis was again Adams, a lively seamer who lifted his match haul to 11 for 123 after taking six for 71 in the first innings. It is the fifth time Adams has taken 10 or more wickets in a first-class match in a career dating back to 1997. [add to that 11 occasions for Notts since 2007 - in fact in just the last two years of that spell; phenomenally  it's 9 five-fors since April 2011 in First class cricket]

He made a huge impact again today as fortunes ebbed and flowed after the Knights resumed on none for one.

At 116 for two they were in a threatening position but the dismissal of James Marshall, who was bowled by Adams for 38, saw the pressure suddenly transferred to the batting side.

Allrounder Joseph Yovich, batting at No 3, still looked to have things under control and he was at the crease for close to four hours in making 58 before offspinner Bhupinder Singh had him caught by Tim McIntosh.

That left the Knights teetering at 186 for six and they eventually fell short of their target despite Peter McGlashan making 28 and new recruit Corey Anderson 22.

While Adams did the main damage, the Aces were also well served by their spinners, with Singh taking three for 57 off 24 overs and Bruce Martin two for 70 off 22.5. 

Report from http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/match-report/aces-hold-nerve-to-snatch-tight-win/950/report.aspx

Andre Adams v Worcestershire