Cricket: Northern Knights battle after Auckland Aces run-fest at Cobham Oval

Auckland Aces batsman Ben Horne gets creative as Northland's Henry Cooper, playing for the Northern Knights, watches on in the field. Photo / John Stone

Anyone looking for the consequences of a dry summer need look no further than the flood of runs scored on New Zealand cricket pitches currently.

For those taking note, from just five innings of cricket played in last few days, the number of runs has totalled 2715, with an average of 543 runs per innings.

The figure included the mammoth 715 scored by the Black Caps against Bangladesh, 584 scored by the Central Districts Stags against the Otago Volts, 468 scored by the Auckland Aces against the Northern Knights, 424 from the Canterbury Kings against the Wellington Firebirds and the impressive 524 scored by Hawke's Bay in their victorious Hawke Cup challenge against Nelson at Saxton Oval.

It had been an unprecedented amount of runs scored around the country, due in part to poor bowling stocks at the international level and also great batting conditions on dry pitches which had been baked under a hot summer sun.

The game between the Northern Knights and the Auckland Aces at Cobham Oval in Whangārei has been no exception, the Aces putting on 468 in the first innings of their Plunket Shield match, Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips both making centuries.

Blackcaps spinner Ish Sodhi claimed six wickets for Northern Districts in Auckland's first innings with the bat. Photo / John Stone

Black Caps spinner Ish Sodhi did much of the damage with ball, taking 6 for 127 off his 38 overs, but with a strong 75 from no 3 batsman Sean Solia, the Aces were on the front foot on day two with the ball.

Northland's Henry Cooper got the home side off to a good start in their innings, making 58 before he fell to spinner Will Somerville. After No 3 batsman Joe Carter was removed for 66, the Aces bowlers slowly chipped away at the hosts' defence, and at tea yesterday, the Knights were 331 for 9 with a session remaining in the day.

Scott Kuggeleijn was not-out on 50 with no 11 Zak Gibson on 4, trailing the Aces by 137 run with one wicket in hand. The bowling attack was dominated by Somerville who took four wickets and the Aces will look to push their advantage on the final day today.

Opening Northern Knights bowler Scott Kuggeleijn fires one down at Cobham Oval on Saturday. Photo / John Stone

Interestingly, it was a different story in Northland's premier two-day competition with wickets tumbling in all three of the games on Saturday.

After rain called off all but one game last week, Kaipara Flats resumed on five without loss after bowling Coalies Onerahi Central Premiers out for 48 in their first innings at Bourne Dean Domain. Kaipara then made 134 all out, opening batsman Matt Taylor top-scoring with 31 and Onerahi's Sam Walker taking six wickets.

Onerahi came back out to bat looking to improve on their first innings total but thanks to some tight bowling from Kaipara's Kevin Forde and Luke Beaven, who both picked up four wickets, they bowled the away side out for 77 and took the outright win with a first innings lead.

At Kensington Park, Duracrete Products City escaped an almost dire first innings loss to Westech Automotives Maungakaramea as City were left at 75 for 8 after 33 overs, chasing Maungakaramea's 128 all out.

City's Jason Smith picked up five wickets off his 18 overs as Maungakaramea collapsed, their top score coming from Mark Southee with 32. However, batting wasn't easy in the second innings with City's top score at 16, Maungakaramea's Sean West taking four wickets.

In the other game of the round, Kamo came close to beating Generation Homes Whangārei Boys High School at Kamo Recreation Ground. The hosts started with the bat, declaring on 207 for 8, Dylan Clark top-scoring with 54. WBHS bowler Ryan Krige was the chief destroyer, taking 4 for 32 off his 10 overs.

WBHS almost crumbled under the pressure of being put into bat, managing to recover and see out the day at 131 for 8 at the end of play. With only a top score of 30 for the batting side, Kamo bowlers shared the load with six bowlers taking one wicket and Max Turner taking two.

In the next round, City take on Onerahi at Cobham Oval, Maungakaramea play Kamo at Maungakaramea Domain and WBHS play Kaipara at Bourne Dean Domain.