Cricket: Bopara ton helps Auckland win

Ravi Bopara provided the cornerstone of Auckland's innings with his first century for the province. Photo / Getty Images

English import Ravi Bopara's century helped Auckland to their second win in the national one-day championship in Palmerston North yesterday.

Auckland claimed the four competition points at Fitzherbert Park, winning by 20 runs on the back of Bopara's first hundred for the province and fast bowler Michael Bates' impressive four-wicket haul for 27 from 9.1 overs.

Set 247 for victory, Central Districts made a disastrous start - slumping to 11 for three after 4.5 overs - before Jamie How sought to resurrect the innings.

The former test opener was successful to a point but was unable to push on to three figures.

How made an accomplished 94 from 112 balls but when he became Bates' third victim - with 70 still required from 50 balls - Central Districts lost impetus and Auckland were able to close out the match with relative ease.

Central Districts petered out on 226 for nine with five balls remaining after Brendon Diamanti was unable to bat because of injury.

Bopara provided the cornerstone of Auckland's 246 for eight - a pleasing outcome for the former international, who has twice got within touching distance of centuries since debuting in the Plunket Shield last month.

He made a 90 against Canterbury in the second round and 89 in the previous one-day round against Otago.

"It's nice to get through the 90s for a change. I feel like I've been in good form, I've just been getting out in unusual ways - getting bowled off the thigh pad doesn't help," he said, referring to an earlier dismissal.

Bopara brought up his chanceless ton from 104 balls and was out a ball later for 102. He struck six fours and hoisted a quartet of sixes.

Bopara occupied the crease from the ninth over to the penultimate ball, needing just 35 deliveries to convert his 50 into three figures.

With Auckland in strife at 64 for five in the 20th, Bopara combined with Andrew de Boorder, who made 55, to post a restorative 94-run stand for the sixth wicket from 123 balls. Bopara then found a useful ally in Daryl Tuffey, who added an unbeaten 34 from 28. They cracked 86 from 58 balls before Bopara ensured Mason ended with three for 48 from 10 overs.

Bates created the early impetus when Graham Napier and George Worker were caught for two and a duck respectively. The in-form Peter Ingram was then run out for eight to leave How with too much work to do.

* Iain O'Brien's farewell to New Zealand cricket fell flat at the Basin Reserve as the retirement-bound fast bowler's efforts were negated by a former international teammate and a player of the future.

Hoping to sign off from Wellington in style after his final test against Pakistan ended in a rain-affected draw at Napier on Tuesday, O'Brien instead leaves for England unfulfilled after Canterbury won by 140 runs.

Set 280, Wellington were bundled out for 139 in the 37th over - hardly a fitting send-off for O'Brien, who was the pick of the home side's attack with two for 45 from 10 overs.

However, that analysis was trumped by Chris Martin, whose opening spell of two for 14 from six overs put Wellington on the backfoot.

Wellington's pursuit never gained traction and when James Franklin departed for 28 - and the score 61 for five in the 16th over - Canterbury's 279 for seven was unreachable.

Corey Anderson removed the dangerous Franklin but caused the bulk of his damage with the bat when Canterbury were at risk of losing their way at 148 for five after former internationals Peter Fulton and Craig McMillan exited in quick succession.

Instead national age-group representative Anderson ploughed an unbeaten 52 from 29 balls, mostly in tandem with Chris Harris. Anderson was chiefly responsible for Canterbury's acceleration at the death - 60 was taken from the last five overs.

Martin also struck twice in his second spell to finish with figures of four for 25 from 10 overs.

* Northern Districts picked up their second win in a rain-shortened match against Otago in Invercargill.

In a match reduced to 30 overs, ND reached 224 for six, courtesy of breezy half centuries by openers BJ Watling, with 58 and Anton Devcich, with 52 from only 35 balls. Peter McGlashan chipped in with 53 later in the innings.

Otago were bowled out for 205 with five balls remaining.

The fourth round is on Wednesday, with Auckland hosting Wellington at Colin Maiden Park and CD playing ND in Palmerston North. The Canterbury-Otago game is on New Year's Eve.

- NZPA