Tim McIntosh extended his impressive record against Canterbury but his 71 stood out like a beacon in another stuttering Auckland batting performance at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.
At stumps on the second day of the Plunket Shield match Auckland were 175 for four, with Greg Todd 42 not out, in
reply to Canterbury's first innings of 334.
McIntosh has been struggling for his best form since he injured his foot in a match-winning century against Otago in a one-day semifinal last month.
The tall lefthander made a cautious start as he lost opening partner Jeet Raval soon after lunch to a skied hook and Andrew de Boorder, bowled by Richard Sherlock for seven.
At 45 for two Auckland were again teetering on the edge of disaster but Todd joined McIntosh to offer some stubborn resistance.
They put on 76 before McIntosh guided a full toss from leg-spinner Todd Astle unerringly to midwicket.
What seems to be a reasonable batting strip has not produced a three-figure innings yet after Canterbury's Shanan Stewart, 81 not out in an overnight total of 298 for six, became becalmed in the face of some tight Auckland bowling and was dismissed for 90 after 70 minutes and only three scoring shots.
The innings folded quickly with Colin de Grandhomme taking four for 45 and Hopkins snaring five catches behind the stumps. Ominously for later in the game spinner Bruce Martin took three for 66 and was extracting some turn.
Central Districts find themselves in a scrap against Wellington.
After two days Wellington are in a good position to press on for a minimum of first innings points after opener Stephen Murdoch guided them to 180 for three in their first innings at the Basin Reserve.
Four points behind Central heading into the penultimate round, Wellington remain 157 runs short of Central's 337, their first target before a likely declaration as both sides position the match to provide outright points for thevictors.
Murdoch formed the cornerstone of Wellington's effort with the bat yesterday as he occupied the crease for 273 minutes, striking nine fours to reach stumps unbeaten on 88 after Central lost their last six first innings wickets for the addition of 111 runs.
Allrounder Harry Boam did the trick for Wellington once play resumed, snaring three wickets, finishing with the impressive figures of three for 26 off nine overs.
Ingram added 24 runs to his overnight score but apart from captain Kruger van Wyk, who ended on 39 not out, none of the visiting batsmen dominated a Wellington attack which leaked too many runs.
In Hamilton, a maiden first-class century to Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder highlighted their first innings of 389 against Northern Districts.
Resuming yesterday at Seddon Park on 54 with his team on 264 for six, de Boorder found lower order support from the likes of Ian Butler, who stayed around for 1 hours while contributing 33.
The 25-year-old appreciated that effort as he extended Northern's stay in the field for as long as possible before being unbeaten on 119 when the 10th wicket fell, having batted for 353 minutes and striking a high proportion of boundaries, with 19 fours and one six on his scoring chart.
Northern recovered from the early loss of Brad Wilson to reach stumps at a powerful 213 for two, with Daniel Flynn making 104 not out and BJ Watling 89 after enjoying a stand of 184 for the second wicket.
- additional reporting NZPA
Tim McIntosh. Photo / APN
Tim McIntosh extended his impressive record against Canterbury but his 71 stood out like a beacon in another stuttering Auckland batting performance at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.
At stumps on the second day of the Plunket Shield match Auckland were 175 for four, with Greg Todd 42 not out, in
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.