Wellington, Dec 14 NZPA - Plunket Shield cricket leaders Northern Districts needed more than help from above to avert a heavy loss to Canterbury in Hamilton today.

Canterbury cantered to a 10-wicket win after the competition pacesetters capitulated for 111 in their second innings at Seddon Park despite rain briefly coming to their aid midway through the last session on the third day of the four-day match.

Seeking cover with their innings in tatters at 79 for eight, Northern Districts only delayed the inevitable once the skies cleared as Joseph Yovich made a defiant 27 not out before running out of partners.

That left Canterbury requiring 28 for victory, which they duly reached without loss inside eight overs to ensure an early return home.

Young Canterbury allrounder Corey Anderson and fast bowler Hamish Bennett conspired to turn the match on its head on a seaming track after the visitors advanced their first innings from an overnight 220 for four to 289.

That left the home side facing a deficit of 84 and after lunching on nine without loss they fell over like tenpins as their batsmen offered a generous helping of catches behind the wicket.

By tea, they were a sickly 71 for eight and another eight runs were tentatively added after the resumption before the players were forced from the field.

Anderson took centre stage with the ball as the 18-year-old left-arm medium-fast bowler took advantage of limited resistance to return career-best figures of five for 22.

Bennett, too, enjoyed the self destruct button pressed by the batsmen to take four for 39.

Canterbury had to do without captain Kruger van Wyk today after he took a heavy blow to the head just four balls into his innings earlier in the day.

Peter Fulton assumed the leadership duties in the field and must have been delighted with the manner in which his bowlers responded.

Earlier, Canterbury failed to fully capatalise on their overnight position of strength, with Johann Myburgh adding just five to depart for 107 and Chris Harris not adding to his 30.

Only Anderson held up Northern Districts up as he chipped in with a valuable 38 to at least extend Canterbury's advantage, as seamer Brent Arnel ended with the fine figures of four for 53 and Yovich took three for 58.