KEY POINTS:
The mood in the Auckland camp was slightly brighter than the dark clouds that rolled over Eden Park's outer oval last night but they will need their batsmen to earn their keep if they are to beat Canterbury today.
Auckland finished day three at 52-2, chasing 272 for
victory, with Lou Vincent (26) and Martin Guptill (20) at the crease when bad light and then rain ended play 30 minutes early last night.
The hosts had slumped to 5-2 early in their run chase after enduring a torrid opening from Leighton Burtt and Sunnie Chan. But Guptill and Vincent steadied matters and then went on the attack to leave the game delicately poised.
"It might be tight but I think we will do it," Auckland allrounder Andre Adams predicted.
It was an intriguing if not always entertaining day's play yesterday, as Canterbury ticked along at 2.6 runs an over before being bowled out for 200 in their second innings.
They had started a rain-interrupted day three at 69-3 but with a handy advantage after their 71-run first-innings lead.
Adams snared a well-deserved five-wicket bag when he took the last Canterbury wicket of No 11 Burtt and the 31-year-old has started the new season as one of the form players on the domestic scene.
He blazed a century at Lincoln in Auckland's first match of the season against Otago to help him to a healthy average of 164. And his five wickets yesterday would also have been a timely reminder to the national selectors as they ponder their team for the upcoming one-dayers against Sri Lanka.
Adams is quick to admit he has one eye on next year's World Cup - and the Sri Lankan and VB series, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and Twenty20 World Cup.
"It's a big summer and I want to play in them all," he said.
The difficulty he has in breaking into the Black Caps, however, is that he is something New Zealand is not short of - decent allrounders.
"I'm thinking the way I am playing, I'll be a strong chance of being in the side but you never know. Braces [Black Caps coach John Bracewell] has already said, 'make sure you are working hard towards the World Cup'.
"Every innings from here on in, regardless of whether it's a one-dayer, Twenty20 or four-dayer, is time in the middle and I want to take advantage of those so I am ready [for the World Cup]. At the moment, things are going well. I'm putting the work in so it's nice to get the rewards."
Both teams will fancy their chances of picking up the rewards today. The wicket, while it offers assistance to the new ball, is still a good batting track but Canterbury's first innings total of 251 is the highest of the match. Only two batsmen have scored half-centuries.
One was Canterbury skipper Chris Harris, who made 52. But when he was out, nicking an Adams delivery to wicketkeeper Reece Young, Canterbury were in trouble at 138-7.
A handy 47-run partnership between Shanan Stewart and Brandan Hiini, who finished not out on 39, helped the visitors post a tricky total.
Auckland's chase got off to a woeful start with the loss of both openers but Vincent took the attack to Canterbury and found able support from Guptill.
The forecast for today is good. If Auckland claim outright points, it will put a brighter shine to a season's opening which had them at the foot of the table.
