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Aldridge Breaks Chris Harris's NZ Bowling Record

Thursday 10 February 2011, 10:51AM

By Margot Butcher

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Knights team-mates congratulate Graeme Aldridge on taking the wicket of Otago's Neil Broom to become the New Zealand record-holder for one-day domestic bowling
Knights team-mates congratulate Graeme Aldridge on taking the wicket of Otago's Neil Broom to become the New Zealand record-holder for one-day domestic bowling Credit: Margot Butcher

Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights bowler Graeme Aldridge is the new holder of the record for the highest tally of wickets in New Zealand domestic One-Day cricket history. The record was previously held by long-serving Canterbury and BLACKCAPS player Chris Harris, who amassed 138 domestic one-day victims in a 20-year career.

The Knights' right-arm opening bowler began this season tied in second place with former Northern Districts team-mate Alex Tait, needing 11 more wickets to become the top wicket-taker in the New Zealand game.

Aldridge achieved the mark in the match that turned out to be the Knights' final one-day game of the season, the rain-blighted semi-final playoff in Queenstown on Sunday, when he dismissed Otago Volts batsman Neil Broom, caught behind for 17. It was his second wicket of the innings, having earlier dismissed opener Aaron Redmond.

Northern Districts Cricket CEO David Cooper noted that "This is a fantastic accolade for Graeme, who has been a long serving member of the Knights team and it’s a huge achievement for him. He’s been a loyal team member and one that the coaching staff can always count on to stand up and deliver. We are very proud of his efforts.”

While Chris Harris took 20 years to secure the top spot, it has taken Aldridge just 12 seasons to chase down the landmark record. It means that Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights players now hold both the top slots in New Zealand's domestic one-day statistics, with veteran batsman Michael Parlane having scored more runs than anyone else in New Zealand. The team will be back in action next week when the first-class (four-day) Plunket Shield resumes with a top-of-the-table clash with the Central Stags in Whangarei.

For details and the match and season review visit http://northernknights.yahooxtra.co.nz/blogs/the-pink-report/entries/game-over

Catch up with cricket news, photos and follow Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights games as they unfold at http://twitter.com/MargotButcher