Cricket: Free-scoring skippers give Auckland edge

Central Stags bowler Doug Bracewell fires one down against Auckland Aces at Colin Maiden Park. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It was Captains' Run Time at Colin Maiden Park yesterday as Auckland scored 347 for four to take a 78-run first-innings lead over Central Districts in their Plunket Shield game.

On the first day Central had struggled to 269 in 97 overs after winning the toss. Auckland passed that total in 78 overs and forged a strong position with captain Gareth Hopkins scoring 133 not out and his predecessor and occasional stand-in, Richard Jones, 123.

Opener Jones scored his runs off 207 balls with 17 fours to bring up his 18th first-class hundred, 11 for Auckland and seven for Wellington.

He was rarely troubled and it was a tired shot that brought his demise, caught close in off left-arm spinner George Worker.

Hopkins offered a couple of chances on his way to his 11th first-class hundred. He has scored four for Auckland, four for Canterbury and three for Otago.

He once collected two in the same game for Canterbury against Auckland at Colin Maiden.

Jones and Hopkins added 135 together and Hopkins and Anaru Kitchen shared an unbroken 84-run partnership which took toll of a weary attack that had been steady without much penetration.

Central had struggled from the start of the first day with three early wickets falling to the pace attack and Bhupinder Singh's off-spin snaring four scalps as the innings almost ground to a halt.

Opener Worker scored 56 and wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs was left 65 not out after sharing a 67-run last-wicket partnership with teenager Adam Milne, who made 36.

Central needed a win to have a chance of catching Northern Districts in the race for the shield but, with two days to go, Auckland must be favoured to take the points and some consolation for their disappointing season in the four-day competition.

* Northern Districts can't quite put their feet up but they are in a comfortable position midway through their match against Otago.

Otago resume on the third morning today at Cobham Oval in Whangarei on 165 for one in their first innings, still well short of the home side's effort of 465 for nine declared.

With two days remaining, Otago must make all the running, leaving skipper Craig Cumming to consider declaring well behind in the hope Northern Districts leave his side a gettable run chase.

For now, though, competition leaders Northern Districts are tantalisingly close to wrapping up the shield with one round remaining.

They are 12 points ahead of nearest challengers Central Districts and have earned themselves some breathing space against Otago thanks to a third first-class century to Brad Wilson.

* Canterbury cricketer Shanan Stewart kept his name in lights with another Plunket Shield century, this time against Wellington at Rangiora.

Stewart stroked 101 in his team's first innings of 318 on the second day of the four-day match, his third first-class century of the summer.

He was principally responsible for Canterbury earning a first innings advantage of 142 runs, which Wellington erased by the close.

Wellington made a much better fist of their second innings, advancing to 144 for two by stumps, with Neal Parlane well set on 78 not out after hitting 11 fours and one six.

He and Stephen Murdoch put on an opening stand of 124 before Murdoch departed for 59, trapped leg before wicket by Todd Astle, a spinner who immediately picked up Cameron Merchant for a duck.

Stewart hit 15 fours in his seventh first-class century which spanned a tick over three hours after Canterbury resumed on 103 for one chasing the visitors' 176.

He built on the earlier good work of opener Michael Papps who did not last long, adding just four runs to his overnight 60.

Stewart dominated the scorecard before being the last man out after receiving good support from Kruger van Wyk with 31 and No 10 Ryan McCone, who made 24.

Seamer Ili Tugaga was the pick of the Wellington bowlers with four for 74.

- additional reporting NZPA