Cricket: Adams' batting lifts a dull day

After his recall to the Black Caps for Saturday's one-day international at Eden Park it was fitting that Andre Adams was at his boisterous best yesterday as Auckland continued their four-day first class representative match against Otago on the park's outer oval.

But apart from the half-century cameo from Adams there was little else to brighten an otherwise dull day.

Auckland carried their first innings total through to a massive 528-8 declared, an overall lead of 180.

By stumps Otago's second innings openers Chris Gaffaney and Craig Cumming had reduced this by 33 so going into today's fourth and final day Auckland lead by 147.

Auckland are under no compulsion to force an outright result, having already assured themselves of top qualifying spot for the playoffs leading into the final in early April.

Other than when Adams was playing a typically swashbuckling hand for 53 from just 58 balls, Auckland's batting was generally at a pedestrian pace.

Even the usually aggressive Aaron Barnes and Tama Canning, the two overnight batsmen, were subdued, in taking their fifth wicket stand through to 71. Barnes was in 155 minutes and faced 126 balls for his 43 and Canning needed 172 minutes and 150 balls for his 38.

The South African born 18-year-old Carl Cachopa helped Adams add 74 for the seventh wicket to confirm the promise he had shown when making 17 against Wellington in his only other first class match.

He showed sound technique and speed between the wickets. But he was very much second fiddle to Adams and his 40 in 158 minutes from 115 balls was in tenor with the rest of Auckland's circumspect approach.

* Wellington put Central Districts to the sword as they convincingly won their State Championship cricket match at Napier's McLean Park yesterday.

There was an air of inevitability about the innings and 33-run hiding Vaughn Johnson's players inflicted on the hosts on the third day with 1.5 overs remaining before stumps.

Central were bowled out for 262 after making 107 in their first innings.

Right-arm medium-pacer Iain O'Brien was the chief destroyer, claiming four wickets on a flat pitch.

Johnson praised O'Brien, saying he was starting to turn a few heads.

But he also credited the victory to a good wicket and the luck of the toss.

- NZPA