Cricket: Central Districts set to assert advantage

Central Districts hold all the cards after another inadequate performance by Auckland in the State Championship cricket match in Palmerston North.

The home side enter the third day of the four-day game at Fitzherbert Park today holding an overall lead of 195 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.

They reached stumps last night at 130 for three after posting 245 yesterday then rolling Auckland for 180.

Auckland's position would have been much more precarious had it not been for defiant wicketkeeper Reece Young, who contributed more than half of his team's runs.

Batting at No 7, Young kept Central Districts at bay for almost three hours as his partners came and went at regular intervals.

He hit 17 fours and one six and was within sight of his second first-class century before being caught behind off seamer Michael Mason for 94.

The next highest scorer was Tim Lythe as Auckland's woeful summer showed no signs of improving.

Mason, 31, was in fine fettle, taking five for 26. It was his eighth five-wicket haul at this level and followed his impressive show at one-day level for New Zealand against the West Indies.

He found a willing partner in Lance Hamilton, who allowed the Aucklanders little leeway as the left-arm seamer helped himself to four for 39.

Central Districts continued to grind down Auckland when they batted a second time, a half-century from Mathew Sinclair setting them up to post a challenging target.

Sinclair scored 53 to go alongside his first innings century and Ross Taylor, on 34, and Jacob Oram, on 10, will look to kick on when they resume tomorrow.

Canterbury v Otago Canterbury require some big shovels because they have a significant hole to dig their way out of against Otago.

Canterbury are in serious bother at the halfway stage in Queenstown because they still trail Otago by 224 runs with just seven second innings wickets in hand.

They ended the second day yesterday at 46 for three in their second dig after capitulating for a meagre 114 in response to Otago's first innings of 384.

Whatever hopes Canterbury harbour of somehow salvaging the match will rest squarely on the shoulders of former internationals Craig McMillan and Chris Harris, who resume today on seven and one, respectively.

However, reputations counted for little in their first innings when Otago offspinner Nathan McCullum pocketed career-best figures of five for 28 as Canterbury perished without a fight.

McCullum ran through the lower order to collect his first five-wicket bag at first-class level after seamer James McMillan had inflicted the early damage.

McMillan, a Canterbury product who shifted south several summers ago in search of regular opportunities, was principally responsible for reducing the visitors to 60 for five before McCullum began the mopping up.

He finished with excellent figures of four for 32 as Canterbury made a hash of responding to Otago's effort, which saw them add another 83 runs after they resumed on 301 for five.

Rookie Shaun Haig starred for Otago yesterday with 94 and though McCullum departed yesterday morning without adding to his overnight 25, Gareth Hopkins chipped in with 43 to advance his team's cause.

Canterbury were without fast bowler Richard Sherlock, who managed just four overs on Saturday before pulling up with a hamstring strain.

ND v Wellington Alun Evans ensured leaders Wellington did not have things all their own way in Hamilton yesterday.

Evans scored an unbeaten 90 as Northern Districts reached 158 for three in their first innings by stumps.

Seeing Wellington reach 366 after resuming on 279 for four, Northern Districts stumbled early as Grant Robinson and Mark Orchard went cheaply to leave them 12 for two.

Evans then joined opener BJ Watling in a third-wicket stand which realised 128 runs before Watling departed for 30 after almost three hours in the middle.

Evans scored much more freely, striking 15 boundaries in 151 minutes at the crease to hold his team together and he will resume today alongside Daniel Flynn, on three.

Earlier, Wellington ensured a fine century by Michael Parlane did not go to waste.

Parlane hit 26 fours and two sixes in making 154 against his former province, a platform built upon yesterday by the lower order which added more than handy runs.

Jeetan Patel made 45 batting at No 10, and Stu Mills chimed in with 28 and Grant Elliott 23 as Wellington's last four wickets realised 128 runs.

Orchard was the pick of the Northern Districts bowlers, taking four for 51 off 23 overs.

- NZPA