Auckland opener Tim McIntosh kept his team on track for the domestic title by batting almost all day for an unbeaten 146 against Northern Districts at Eden Park yesterday.
With two days remaining, the teams are evenly poised. Northern completed their first innings of 298 after a coupleof overs in the morning. At stumps, Auckland were 294 for the loss of seven wickets.
The tall, left-handed McIntosh has scored 756 runs in 16 innings for Auckland this season at an average of 58.15, with two centuries and five half-centuries.
With Mark Richardson, he saw Auckland through to 72 without loss at lunch.
But at that stage Richardson retired to receive treatment on an injured back.
At 104, Matt Horne was caught behind off Ian Butler.
His dismissal started a mini-slump as Rob Nicol and Tama Canning fell cheaply to some hostile bowling from Joe Yovich.
And when Aaron Barnes was caught in front by Butler, Auckland were teetering at 162 for four.
Brad Nielsen fell to left-arm spinner Bruce Martin, but Craig Pryor buckled down to make 32 in a 67-run partnership with McIntosh.
The opener reached his 100 off 223 balls with 14 fours.
As the Northern attack tired, McIntosh opened out with some fierce drives and pulls, one of which hit close fielder Nick Horsley on the knee and sent him off for treatment.
When Pryor was caught off Butler with the score at 250, Richardson returned to make 15 more runs before falling to Butler off the last ball of the day.
Northern's pace attack of Butler and Yovich finished with three wickets apiece.
Auckland will almost certainly lead on the first innings, but if Wellington were to beat Otago that would not be enough.
However, Wellington were struggling in Alexandra yesterday.
