Cricket: Clouds loom over second shield day

Ben Wheeler.

Every so often it happens in first-class cricket.

You know, wickets tumble cheaply and a warped ball is changed after several overs in the backdrop of misty rain that delays play.

Did the weather dictate terms yesterday on the opening day of the third round of the Plunket Shield match against the Auckland Aces at Eden Park No2?

"Not a hell of a lot but just enough to keep the bowlers interested," Ben Wheeler said after the hosts skittled CD for 159 in 44.4 overs.

The outfield, he said, dried out pretty fast.

At stumps the Aces were hanging tough at 116-8 in 48 overs with captain Rob Nicol 38 not out and No10 DJ Bartlett yet to score.

Wheeler, who claimed 2-34 from 17 overs, including six maidens, said the forecast for today wasn't promising and progressively getting worse into the weekend.

The left-arm seamer said most of the bowlers from both teams had put the ball in the right areas.

Fellow opener Doug Bracewell took 3-47 from 15 overs, including three maidens.

At first change, Kieran Noema-Barnett and Andrew Mathieson were equally frugal. The former took 2-19 from nine overs while the latter chimed in with 1-13 from seven.

"Our goal was to try to bat again tonight and the bowlers were going to build in partnerships which Dougie and I did, starting well in getting the top two.

"Kieran and Mathers did that, too."

The Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North CC player said CD always intended to expose the middle and lower-order batsmen early.

"Nicol will be a huge wicket tomorrow morning ... or we'll keep him off strike and attack the rest."

CD skipper Kruger van Wyk took three catches as wicketkeeper while Aces counterpart Brad Cachopa snaffled two.

Veteran Jamie How scored 38, Ben Smith added 29 and No11 Mathieson was unbeaten on 22.