KEY POINTS:
Auckland are well positioned to press on for victory over the next two days against Central Districts at Eden Park.
At stumps yesterday in the penultimate round of the State Championship, Auckland were 77 for one in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 167.
No one
could accuse New Zealand new ball bowler Chris Martin of not continuing to make his presence felt in the championship.
He played a large part in CD being dismissed for 224 yesterday - their innings began at the start of the day - by taking five for 52 in 19 overs.
New ball partner Andre Adams was equally as effective, taking four for 59.
Since returning from a two-match break, Martin has been as effective as any seamer in the country. He bagged eight for 86 against CD when the teams met in Napier last month, then snared match figures of nine for 136 against Wellington in the last round.
Martin has now taken 25 wickets in the championship - 22 in the last five innings - and Adams is up to 29 for the campaign; numbers bettered only by Wellington's Iain O'Brien with 34.
CD chugged along at just over three runs an over yesterday. Only Greg Hay, who made 40, and Greg Hegglun, with a brisk 52 not out near the end, made much impact.
Auckland captain Richard Jones was the bulwark of their first innings, with a fine 143.
Today, he will start out 43 runs shy of back-to-back hundreds.
Auckland lie fourth in the table, on 12 points, two ahead of CD, with both out of the running for the final later this month.
* Hamish Marshall's second century of the championship carried leaders Northern Districts into a strong position after day two of their match against bottom-placed Otago in Hamilton.
Marshall, unwanted by the national selectors for much of this season, hit 119 as ND reached 523 for seven declared.
It was the second hundred of the innings, after opener BJ Watling made 104 on Monday.
Marshall had hit 617 runs at 56 in the championship. Only Canterbury opener Michael Papps, with 691 runs, has scored more in the championship.
At stumps, Otago were 209 for three, still 164 short of avoiding the follow on, but in far better shape than in the earlier stages of their innings.
Fast-medium Graeme Aldridge knocked the top off the Otago innings with a lively opening spell.
He whipped out Otago captain Craig Cumming, Jordan Sheed and Greg Todd inside his first five overs to have Otago reeling at 14 for three.
But an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 195 between Aaron Redmond and Neil Broom, who are on 86 and 95 respectively, put some substance into Otago's innings.
Marshall's innings included 20 fours and a six and came off 186 balls.
There was half centuries from Nick Horsley and Simon Andrews to further solidify the ND innings.
* Canterbury ground Wellington into the turf at QEII Park in Christchurch yesterday. Having marched on to 613 for seven declared, Wellington were 51 for none at stumps.
Canterbury, lying second, two points ahead of Wellington, rammed home their advantage with opener Papps, who started the day on 160, finally being dismissed for 188. His average for the season now stands at 86.
It was his third century of the championship. Four Wellington players rattled up unwanted centuries off their bowling.
Canterbury benefited from solid hands after Papps' dismissal, after 466 minutes at the crease.
Ben Rae, wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and Iain Robertson all contributed half centuries and Brandon Hiini was 45 not out at the declaration.
At stumps, Wellington openers Sam Fairley and Luke Woodcock were on 22 and 20.
