Cricket: Watling's solid start blunts Otago attack

The lazy, hazy days of summer are yet to arrive, with rain wreaking havoc on the second day of the Plunket Shield's third round yesterday.

Play was possible in only one of the scheduled three matches, Northern Districts' clash with Otago, and even then only 46 overs were possible in Dunedin.

In that time, Black Cap B J Watling warmed up for his trip to Australia with an unbeaten half century opening the batting for the Knights, blunting Otago's international-class attack.

Watling was included in New Zealand's 13-man touring squad for the test series against the old foe, but was left behind to get more time in the middle.

He did just that at the University Oval, batting for more than three hours and facing 137 balls in compiling his 67 not out. Fellow opener Brad Wilson also made 50, but Northern's opening stand fell just short of a century when Ian Butler dismissed Wilson for 52.

Watling and James Marshall (31 not out) saw the Knights through to stumps at 159-1 and, unless there are some sporting declarations made in the time remaining, a result will be hard to come by after the first day was also washed out.

That was the fate of the other two games, with Canterbury remaining on 27-1 in Rangiora, trailing Central's first innings total of 307 by 280 runs, and Auckland still sitting on 284-7 against Wellington in Lincoln.