Out In The Middle With Scott

Knights off to a great start in HRV Cup

Well, the HRV Cup competition is finally here and the Yahoo! Northern Knights had a great start against Canterbury with a five-run win.

I think it’s really important to get some momentum going early on in the competition, because if you fall during the first few games pressure can build later on, so it’s always nice to get underway with a win.

We also had five BLACKCAPS come back into the team after their awesome Test win in Australia, so it was great to see them settle back in and pick up the way we want to play T20 cricket. And it was BJ Watling, who batted fantastically, that was a stand out for us.

We were around 70/1 at the halfway mark at 10 overs, so if we are in that position with eight or nine wickets in hand every time, I’d be more than happy as the Knights captain.

The guys at the top did most of the damage in the later platform and BJ was the guy who went all the way through – so because we only won by five runs, he proved to be the difference.

Returning BLACKCAP Tim Southee also had a brilliant game.

We had some new plans that we were looking to use in T20 at the death and I thought Tim executed them really well, showing why he is probably one of the premier death-bowlers in world cricket at the moment.

But sometimes it’s the unheralded performances that can also make the difference.

Kane Williamson bowled his offspinner’s four overs for 13 which is phenomenal when playing this version of the game. On top of that, Kane bowled one over in power play which makes it even more impressive.

Hamish Marshall and Brad Wilson also stood out for me during our opener.

The fact these boys are playing so well gives us a massive confidence boost before heading into our next HRV Cup game on Boxing Day against the Aces in Auckland.

The Aces are a class team who have two overseas players on their roster. But regardless of that we feel we have a strong team.

I reckon we are one of the favourites for the competition and there is no better way to test that than against the current champions - so if we can win, it shows the Knights are right up there as title contenders.

But before all that comes the small matter of Christmas, which this year will be spent with the family.

There’s nothing too strenuous in the Styris household this year, just lounging around and opening lots of presents – and unfortunately no tipples for me on Christmas day, but I guess that is a life of a cricketer.

It’s true that we don’t get to enjoy the big day perhaps as much as everyone else, but we love what we do, so in the end it’s all worth it.

Merry Christmas to you all, have a great one and I look forward to seeing you supporting the Knights at home during the HRV Cup.

Cheers, Scotty