Cricket: Auckland nails the points

Hamish Marshall is finding runs hard to come by.

Middle-order batsman Reece Young's 72 from 89 balls helped Auckland secure first-innings points from their drawn match against Canterbury in Christchurch yesterday.

As expected, the match petered out during Canterbury's second innings after the second day was lost to bad weather.

Auckland scored 356 in reply to Canterbury's first innings total of 248 and, with Young's 117 minutes at the crease yielding 12 boundaries after Rob Nicol (24) failed to add to his overnight score and Tama Canning (20) adding just 14.

Kerry Walmsley (37) and Tim Lythe (29) were the other main contributors for Auckland yesterday.

Canterbury lost openers Michael Papps (11) and Gary Stead (0) in their second turn at the bat before Peter Fulton (52) steadied the ship during some batting practice.

ND v CD

The Marshall brothers' struggle for runs continued as their Northern Districts side walked off Napier's McLean Park yesterday with innings points in their drawn match against Central Districts. Northern scored 450 in the first innings, a total founded on a New Zealand first-class record of 322 runs for the sixth wicket by Mark Orchard (175) and Joseph Yovich (144).

Central mustered 428 in reply before being bowled out on Wednesday after solid contributions from captain Jamie How (86), Michael Mason unbeaten on 64, Ewen Thompson's 62, Ross Taylor's 60 and 46 from Jarrod Englefield.

Northern batted out the final day yesterday, scoring 234 for five with major contributions from Nick Horsley (85) and B. J. Watling (88).

However, Black Caps James and Hamish Marshall, whose recent lean trots at international level have been under scrutiny, contributed just 13 runs in a match that saw their side score 684 runs in two innings.

Northern skipper James Marshall had 2 and 7 while Hamish had 4 and 0, with Ewen Thompson getting Hamish's wicket twice and James' once. Northern lost to Otago by seven wickets in the first round while Central drew with Auckland but conceded first innings points.

Otago v Wellington

Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson described Otago's performance as gutsy despite his side cruising to a 10-wicket win at the University Oval. Resuming on their overnight score of 47-0, Wellington needed just 98 more runs for victory and met the modest total without losing a wicket.

After consecutive outright wins, Wellington lead the championship on 16 points.

Johnson was pleased with the way his side had started the season but thought there was room for improvement.

"We have played some clinical cricket," Johnson said.

"In saying that, though, I thought we underachieved a little in our first innings. But bowling Otago out for 73 runs was a bonus."

Wellington captain Matthew Bell and Luke Woodcock resumed the fourth day yesterday on 22 and 24 respectively.

Woodcock brought up his 50 when he dispatched an Aaron Redmond delivery to long-on for four.

Bell brought up his 50 after drinks with the shot of the day, a lofted on-drive for six off Redmond.

Woodcock brought the match to a close when he guided a Neil Broom delivery through gully for four.

Bell was unbeaten on 70 and Woodcock on 74.

- NZPA