Cricket: Batsmen on the back foot as the bowlers dominate

Ben Smith. Photo / Paul Taylor

Oh, to be a bowler at Eden Park yesterday.

Auckland lead the Plunket Shield going into the third round of matches, with Central Districts second, nine points back.

But batsmen in both teams beat a regular retreat to the pavilion on the No2 ground as the bowlers shared 18 wickets while 267 runs were scored.

Auckland won the toss, sent CD in to bat and the early signs were encouraging for the visitors as Jamie How, who is retiring later this season, and Ben Smith put on 52 in 11 overs.

From that point things went wrong for CD, eight wickets falling for 61.

New ball pair Matt Quinn and Michael Bates have been in good form this season and shared seven more yesterday.

How's 38 was top score and Auckland's top order were padding up after just 44.4 overs.

Auckland fared little better, and were limping at 116 for eight at stumps, captain Rob Nicol having ground his way to 35 in two and a half hours.

Leading wicket taker Doug Bracewell's strong start to the summer continued with three more, while Ben Wheeler and Kieran Noema-Barnett have grabbed two each.

Ten batsmen were dismissed in single figures. This has all the signs of not making it beyond the third day.

The Northern Districts and Wellington got through just 65.4 overs at Seddon Park in Hamilton, in which honours finished around even.

Northern, having been sent in, will start today on 223 for nine, with New Zealand test wicketkeeper BJ Watling unbeaten on 60.

There wasn't much else for ND's batsmen to cheer about. Captain Daniel Flynn got 35, test legspinner Ish Sodhi a brisk 26, while one notable ND old boy, Brent Arnel, picked up three for 55 for Wellington.

At Rangiora, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum is due in next for Otago when play begins today, after a rain-hit day which ended with the Volts 117 for one against Canterbury.

Hamish Rutherford, aiming to regain his test place against Sri Lanka, was out for 14. Former test opener Aaron Redmond reached 59 and promising Michael Bracewell is on 32.