Cricket: Honours even at halfway point of Auckland-Canterbury

Colin Munro gave Auckland some respectability as they collapsed against Canterbury. Photo / photosport.nz

A former Auckland age group player wrought havoc against his old province in their Plunket Shield match at Rangiora today.

Tall fast-medium bowler Kyle Jamieson grabbed eight for 74 off 16.5 overs to dismiss Auckland for 285 in their first innings, restricting the visitors' first innings advantage to 40.

Jamieson, 22 next month, got bounce and troubled the batsmen throughout as he achieved the third-best figures ever for a Canterbury bowler in first-class cricket against Auckland.

Auckland owed a debt to aggressive lefthand international batsman Colin Munro.

His 108 not out kept Auckland afloat as they sank to 138 for seven. Munro and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson put on 94 for the eighth wicket, Ferguson making 41, then a further 41 with Cody Andreews for the ninth wicket.

It was Munro's 10th first-class century, and as always it was a rapid innings. He hit nine fours and five sixes in his 86-ball innings. It took his first-class average to 49.7.

Central Districts have had a lean time of it this season but are strongly-placed at the halfway stage against leaders Northern Districts in Nelson.

CD will start day three at 98 for none in their second innings, with Ben Smith on 60 and Greg Hay on 35 having dismissed ND for 153 to earn a 72-run first innings advantage and now lead by 170 overall.

Tim Seifert top scored in a lean ND effort, with 35, while the chief destroyer was left arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who took five for 22 off 17.2 overs. It is his third bag of five or more wickets and takes him to 24 wickets in this shield campaign.

ND had their acting captain Dean Brownlie disappear at the start of the day to join the New Zealand test squad in Hamilton which didn't help.

Rain played havoc with the third game in Dunedin where Wellington got as far as 119 for three in reply to Otago's first innings 208. Captain Michael Papps made 41 and they start today trailing by 89.