Take two teams packed with talented batsmen, provide a pitch full of runs and a carpet-like outfield, add in a glorious Auckland day, and the crowd enjoying the surroundings of the Eden Park Outer Oval could not help but be entertained.

Five hundred and sixty one runs were scored in this first round State Shield match between Auckland and Northern Districts before the visitors sealed victory on the fourth ball of the last over.

Auckland, courtesy of a rollicking 55 from Matt Horne and a controlled 82 from Lou Vincent, reached the competitive total of 279 from their 50 overs. Supposedly under the spotlight for the one-dayers in Australia, Mark Richardson (27) lived in Horne's shadow until he was the first wicket to fall at 66.

Vincent's effort was particularly noteworthy because he arrived when Auckland were two down after a lively start (100 off 103 balls). He saw wickets fall at the other end but maintained his composure and ensured in partnerships with Adam Parore (26), Andre Adams (31) and Brooke Walker (20) that Auckland would not suffer the collapses they have become renowned for in the past after good starts.

Bowling was always going to be difficult on a pitch made for batting. Daryl Tuffey found that in his second and third overs, going for 11 and 12 respectively. However, he did return effectively to end with two for 43 off seven overs. The other bowling performance of note was Joseph Yovich's four for 60 off 10 overs, 17 of the runs coming from his last. Daniel Vettori was treated with respect but still went for 43 off his eight, collecting the wicket of Parore along the way.

Northern will be practising their ground fielding - a number of balls slid under diving fieldsmen and two catches from on high went down late in the innings.

Northern started the chase steadily, the major flourish being the inclusion of Vettori as opener. His stay was short - 14 off 19 balls. Kyle Mills in particular kept the scoring under control, bowling his 10 overs straight through in the heat, conceding 38 runs and capturing the wickets of Vettori and Matthew Hart along the way. His figures turned out to stand in contrast to his fellow bowlers.

It was steady progress, always behind the Auckland run rate - sometimes well behind - until they reached 250. Critical was maintaining wickets and keeping the singles flowing. They went 11 overs in the middle of innings without scoring a boundary but the run rate was still maintained at around four an over.

The Marshall twins played a major role, Hamish (68) taking up where James (44) had left off. But the key to win was the anchoring innings of Scott Styris. Quite happy to rotate the strike while the runs were flowing at the other end, he came into his own when the rate needed to be increased. A couple of big sixes late in piece and the winning four left him unbeaten on 84 and Northern the winners by five wickets.

Auckland bowlers certainly helped his and the Northern cause, faltering under the late pressure. Chris Drum in particular will have hardly helped his Australian cause, going for 13 off his ninth over and 13 off the four balls of his last over that Northern needed to complete the victory.

Auckland play Canterbury tomorrow on the same Outer Oval pitch while Northern take their four points for the win to Mt Maunganui for their clash with Central Districts.

© CricInfo