By GRAHAM REDDAWAY
Matt Horne's monumental patience and vast experience provided the backbone of an innings that could take Auckland to a very competitive score against Northern Districts at Eden Park.
On a day plagued by interruptions for poor weather yesterday, former test opener Horne entered the seventh round State Championship match after opener Tim McIntosh was run out for one in the fifth over. By the end of the day he was on 91, with Auckland 143 for three.
Horne had to make four starts to his innings but he hardly gave the Northern Districts attack a chance.
Earlier, McIntosh and Mark Richardson did not last long. McIntosh was undone by a diving throw from Grant Robinson that hit the stumps and found him fractionally short.
Richardson followed for 14 when he was brilliantly caught low to his left by wicketkeeper Robbie Hart from Joey Yovich's first ball.
Horne was joined by Lou Vincent and the pair added 36 for the third wicket before Vincent was out to a very good delivery from Mark Orchard, keeping Northern in the frame at 71 for three.
Vincent had looked scratchy after returning from a finger injury but he was shaping nicely before his dismissal. Robbie Nicol played an anchor role for Horne and was unbeaten on 11 at stumps.
Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell and Eden Park's head groundsman, Mark Perham, both thought a score of 275 to 300 on this pitch would make life difficult for the side batting second.
Test speedster Ian Butler worked up to full pace very quickly, but he strayed off line too often to be a danger. Orchard looked the tidiest of the four-pronged pace attack.
Skipper Robbie Hart did not introduce spin until the 42nd over.
* Bowlers had a field day as Wellington and Central Districts ploughed through 18 wickets at McLean Park, Napier yesterday. Wellington were bowled out for 181 - Ewen Thompson grabbing seven for 55 - but responded by having CD 55 for eight, with Mark Gillespie and James Franklin taking four wickets apiece.
* Otago were in good shape after the opening day of their game against Canterbury in Alexandra, sitting at 279 for five. Mohammad Wasim made 66 and Robbie Lawson was on 50 for the home side.
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