KEY POINTS:
Auckland won a solitary one-day match last summer, but they've already matched that achievement with their convincing win over Northern Districts in the opening round last weekend.
Now they can put some momentum into their campaign against Central Districts at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth today.
Auckland began
the State Shield a few days after a hefty four-day defeat to ND at Eden Park. But when the teams pitched up again last Saturday, captain Richard Jones, Rob Nicol and Paul Hitchcock played good supporting roles as English professional Mal Loye carried Auckland to a five-wicket win with a classy 90.
Loye is missing today, his niggling calf strain again sidelining him, but Jones yesterday stressed the importance of Saturday's win over ND.
"That was the good thing about playing ND again straight away," he said. "They were the team that did it to us [in the championship] and it was great to get back on the horse straight away and have a good win against them." Auckland have test fast-medium bowler Chris Martin back and Martin Guptill replaces Loye in a 12 which has some newcomers this season, including David Haupapa, Colin Munro and Roneel Hira.
Jones likes what the newcomers bring.
"We've had a cleanout in the past few years and it's quite exciting. We've got young guys throwing themselves around, which is great."
ND coach Andy Moles was unimpressed with his team's effort against Auckland.
"We've had words about it. It was certainly a wakeup call," Moles said yesterday, acknowledging Auckland had played the smarter one-day cricket.
"We didn't do the basics right and got outplayed."
ND face Otago at Taupo, the visitors also smarting from a 23-run loss to Canterbury in the first round. Otago make one change, seasoned medium pacer Warren McSkimming returning in place of Craig Smith.
Wellington host defending champions Canterbury, both first round winners, in the capital.
Canterbury have brought fast-medium Chris Small to bolster the seam bowling department; Wellington won't name their 12 until this morning. Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington have four points, CD, ND and Otago none.
There are eight more rounds after today.
ONE-DAY PLAY
State Shield, round two, all start noon today:
Central Districts v Auckland, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
CD: Jamie How (c), Geoff Barnett, Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair, Greg Hay, Bevan Griggs, Brendan Diamanti, Greg Hegglun, Andrew Niblett, Campbell Furlong, Craig Cruickshank.
Auckland: Richard Jones (c), Lou Vincent, Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Reece Young, Paul Hitchcock, David Haupapa, Lance Shaw, Maya Pasupati, Colin Munro, Roneel Hira, Chris Martin (one to be omitted).
Northern Districts v Otago, Owen Delaney Park, Taupo
ND: B.J. Watling (c), Nick Horsley, Alun Evans, Daniel Flynn, Mark Orchard, Joseph Yovich, Bruce Martin, Daryl Tuffey, Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel, Anton Devcich, Ian Butler (one to be omitted).
Otago: Craig Cumming (c), Shaun Haig, Aaron Redmond, Greg Todd, Neil Broom, Chris Gaffaney, Nathan McCullum, Jordan Sheed, Bradley Scott, Warren McSkimming, Nick Turner, Matt Harvie (one to be omitted).
Wellington v Canterbury, Basin Reserve
Wellington: Team named today
Canterbury: Chris Harris (c), Ian Robertson, Michael Papps, Craig McMillan, Shanan Stewart, Luke Vivian, Kruger van Wyk, Brandon Hiini, Brent Findley, Chris Small, Sunnie Chan, Hamish Bennett (one to be omitted).