'Frog-in-blender' takes match-winning haul

Rookie Kiwi spinner Blake Coburn has played a decisive hand as defending champions Canterbury held off Northern Districts for an eight-run win in Rangiora.

The 21-year-old left-arm wrist spinner, in just his second first-class appearance, took 7-64, including the last five wickets to fall, three of which came in the one over.

However, it wasn't just the young spinner's match-winning figures that proved eye-catching. 

Coburn's distinctive bowling action features a rapid flailing of limbs, reminiscent of South African tweaker Paul Adams' famous 'frog-in-a-blender' technique. 

There's no questioning its effectiveness, with Coburn taking his tally of wickets to 13 after two rounds, equal top with Central Districts slow left-armer Ajaz Patel. 

Northern Districts began their chase for 245 at the start of the final day and had looked in good shape at 5-180 before all five remaining batsmen fell to the young spinner. 

Not a member of Canterbury's 15-man contracted list, Coburn received a call-up to make his first-class debut following an injury crisis and unavailability of their frontline spinner Todd Astle. 

The personal training student, who grew up idolising Australian left-armer Brad Hogg, said while the pitch had played a part in his impressive haul, his feat had earned him plenty of attention.

"I was more focusing on attacking the stumps. There was quite a bit of turn. Day four and all the footmarks and the dust sort of helped us out," Coburn told local media. 

"My phone has been going ballistic. It's challenging trying to reply to them all."