The Kings’ slow start to their campaign was helped considerably when they made it back-to-back wins against the luckless Wellington Firebirds.
Their second clash in the space of two days was away at the Basin Reserve, this time — but it didn’t bring any home town joy for the Birds.
This time the capital side went down to the Kings by just nine runs in a Friday afternoon runfest, the Kings confidently racking up 199 for 4 after having been sent in — BLACKCAPS Tom Latham (63 off 42) and Henry Nicholls (an unbeaten 67 off 31) both pumping out half centuries.
They had helped make it simply business as usual after Chad Bowes had been lost in the third over, Peter Fulton also getting the innings going with a 34-ball 44, including six fours and a six.
At 104 for one in reply, it was far from game over, however. With a quick half century from captain Hamish Marshall (59 off 35), the Firebirds looked well in control of their chase until the 12th over — when Todd Astle (2-36) broke the 67-run second-wicket stand with Marshall’s wicket, caught by Matt Henry.
Despite 38 off 29 from Stephen Murdoch and late cameos from hometown hard-hitters Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi, from there the Kings’ attack built steady pressure, rejoicing when they had Ronchi stumped on 17.
The winless Firebirds will now have to stare down the well performed Stags in Nelson this Sunday afternoon to get themselves on the board.
