By BRIAN SMITH CRICKET
With Sunday washed out, the first round of the under-15 provincial cricket tournament was played under one-day conditions on artificial wickets.
Two exciting and keenly contested games saw Auckland prevail over Wellington, with Central Districts getting the better of Northern Districts.
Central Districts164 defeated Northern Districts 146.
Rotorua Boys' High student Chance Perham bowled the opening overs for Northern Districts, but it was the free flowing stroke making of Dane Cleaver that held centre stage in an opening partnership of 78 of which Cleaver's contribution was 56 from 60 balls.
Ihaia West played the sheet anchor role to make a patient 13, but although Paul Hawke batted solidly to get to 27, Ash Vodlana, 4/28, Matthew Thomas, 3/29, and Rory Darkins all bowled well to hold Central to a modest score.
Northern's innings started shakily and although Rhys McCarthy made 17, they were in trouble at 28/4 in the 10th over, with Ben Wheeler and Bevan Small having two wickets each.
As the 20th over started rain was drifting in and at 6/68 Northern were well behind the asking rate if play had been called off.
However, the rain disappeared and Matthew Thomas and Owen Ivins set about restoring the innings. Thomas, who made 31, drove with authority and although he was felled by a Wheeler bouncer, the 50-run partnership gave Northern hope.
However, spinner Josh Palmer and keeper Cleaver teamed up for two stumpings to take the wind out of the Northern sails. Wheeler and Palmer both took three wickets and Small two.
* Wellington 162 lost to Auckland 163/8.
Top order batsmen Harry Wright, 19, Andrew Fletcher, 18, and Sam Lawson, 24, all got starts, but Wellington struggled to put a substantial partnership together when they batted first against Auckland.
Daniel Drower, batting at number nine, added a valuable 27, but all the batsmen struggled against the three-pronged spin attack led by Ashley Abraham, who took 1/23 from 10 overs of leg spin, and the pace and accuracy of Jordan Drinkall, who finished with 4/28.
* Today is the first day of two-day games between Northern Districts and Wellington at Smallbone Park, and Auckland and Central Districts at Boord Park.
