Date-stamped : 11 Feb97 - 10:16 27 December 1996 ND Cruises To Win Despite de Silva's Shining Form AUCKLAND -- Northern Districts had an effortless win when it beat Auckland yesterday without really breaking into a sweat. Auckland scored a respectable 231 for eight from its 50 overs, but Bryan Young (97) led Northern Districts to victory with six wickets and 25 balls to spare. Auckland had the consolation of an unusually big crowd of about 5000 at the Eden Park No. 2 cricket ground which was treated to a brilliant cameo innings of 64 by Aravinda de Silva, Auckland's hired help from Sri Lanka. Otherwise Northern Districts controlled the course of the game from the moment Blair Pocock won the toss and put Auckland in to bat on a pitch which still retained some moisture and mischief. Auckland quickly lost both opening batsmen as Simon Doull and Scott Styris made the ball bend about. Adam Parore and de Silva, who should have rested an injured ankle but nevertheless managed to score 64 from 70 balls, countered with a dashing 87-run stand. After de Silva was gone the Auckland effort slowed. But the pace picked up again when Justin Vaughan (33) and Stephen Lynch (56) put on 78 for the sixth wicket, and the innings ended at 231 for eight wickets. With the sun shining and the pitch getting better and better for batting Michael Parlane (65) and Bryan Young (97) started with a five-run-an-over pace and kept it up. Parlane needed only 57 balls for his 50 but was run out for 65 after the 119-run stand had set a new opening record for Northern Districts in Shell Cup cricket. There was no mercy for the Auckland bowlers as Young and Blair Pocock carried on the attack with 93 runs for the second wicket and Young had the rotten luck to be bowled for 97 (off 117 balls including 13 fours) when he needed only three runs for his hundred. -- NZPA Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)