Cricket: Hopkins' double century big boost for Auckland

If Colin Maiden Park wasn't Gareth Hopkins' favourite ground before yesterday, it certainly should be now after the double-century he scored for Auckland against Central Districts in a Plunket Shield game at Glen Innes.

The Auckland captain's 201 is his highest first-class score and a big contributor to his team's first innings of 635 for six declared which also featured hundreds by Richard Jones (123), Anaru Kitchen (113) and Colin de Grandhomme (106 not out).

Central, trailing by 366 on the first innings, were last night 119 for three in their second.

Hopkins, 33, who has scored hundreds for Auckland, Canterbury and Otago, first played at Colin Maiden for Canterbury in February 2003.

He scored 113 in the first innings and 175 not out in the second - his highest score until yesterday. Asked last night if it was his favourite ground, he said: "It's right up there."

Auckland began the third day at 347 for four in reply to CD's 269 and they were rarely troubled by the depleted attack.

Kitchen regained some of the form that brought him three centuries last season before throwing everything but the sink at the ball to be caught in the deep. He hit 13 fours and four sixes.

There was no respite for CD as de Grandhomme scored all around the wicket while Hopkins stalked his double-ton. Hopkins reached 201 in 7 hours before being caught at the wicket off part-time bowler Brad Patton.

De Grandhomme raced past 100 off 86 balls with eight fours and five sixes before Auckland declared after tea.

Left-arm spinner George Worker took three wickets for 204 off 42 overs as he toiled in the absence of strike bowler Michael Mason with a migraine and young paceman Adam Milne with an injured knee.

At Rangiora, Wellington allrounder James Franklin appreciated his return to domestic cricket with a fine century against Canterbury.

Released from the New Zealand squad after their one-day series against Australia, Franklin dined out on a helpful batting surface to score 162, his 10th first-class century.

It complemented an equally impressive 137 from opener Neal Parlane as Wellington sparked to life on the third day of the four-day fixture to post 447 in their second innings.

That left Canterbury requiring 306 for victory, with Wellington reducing the hosts to 45 for three by the close.

Openers Rob Nicol and Michael Papps as well as Johann Myburgh were removed as Wellington, rolled for just 176 in their first innings, continued their fight back.

Canterbury had earned a first-innings lead of 142 after scoring 318 and Wellington erased that deficit by the time they resumed on 144 for two, with Parlane on 78 and Franklin on one.

They put on 176 for the third wicket before Parlane's fine knock ended to an edge behind after he had hit 17 fours and two sixes in 313 minutes.

Franklin continued until he offered a return catch to spinner Rob Nicol, departing after 279 minutes at the crease during which time he struck 26 fours and a solitary six.

But his exit heralded a collapse, with Wellington losing four for 12 as their last six wickets fell for 47 runs as legspinner Todd Astle, 23, came to the fore. Astle finished with five for 118 off 30 overs.

- Additional reporting: NZPA