An inept first innings batting display by defending champions Canterbury left Auckland in the box seat at the end of the second day of their State Championship cricket match in Rangiora yesterday.
Auckland, who compiled an imposing first innings of 398, bowled Canterbury out for a paltry 169just before tea.
Auckland captain Richard Jones opted not to enforce the follow-on, and although Canterbury managed an early breakthrough with the removal of Tim McIntosh for nine in the fourth over, by the end of the day Auckland had amassed a healthy 372-run lead at 143 for five in their second innings.
Jones was dismissed for 22 by the same combination of Michael Davidson's left arm swing and the safe hands of Johann Myburgh that dislodged him for 28, and first innings century-maker McIntosh fell for nine.
New Zealand one-day allrounder Scott Styris and Reece Young kept the score ticking over at more than four runs an over before Todd Astle trapped Styris leg before on 28 from 35 balls with the score on 100.
Young added a second innings 40 to his first-innings century, another caught by Myburgh, this time off the bowling of seamer Brandon Hiini with the total at 109. Gareth Hopkins fell nine overs later with the total on 131.
Resuming yesterday morning on 356 for six, Auckland's last four wickets fell in 15 overs and 42 runs as they posted a first innings total of 398.
Honours were evenly shared in the wicket-taking stakes, with left arm seamer Michael Davidson's 3-68 receiving excellent support from paceman Hamish Bennett (3-71) and medium pacer Brandon Hiini (3-101).
Canterbury never really recovered from the early losses of openers Todd Astle, without scoring, and Michael Papps, who tickled the edge of an Azhar Abbas outswinger into the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Hopkins.
Resuming after lunch at 44 for two, Canterbury struggled to handle some intelligent bowling from Andy McKay, who finished with a career-best of four for 37 off 12 overs.
