KEY POINTS:
Hamish Marshall has achieved a few things already in his cricket career but he added an unwanted one yesterday when he was dismissed for 99.
As he walked dejectedly from the field after top-edging a pull to Andre Adams at square leg, team-mates might have been advised to
steer clear of the 27-year-old.
But the fact Northern Districts are in the box seat at the end of day three against Auckland should have cheered him up no end.
Auckland will need to pray for either rain or a miracle if they are to salvage anything from the match - but the way they batted last night, the showers forecast might need to turn into something more serious.
They are 63 for 5, chasing 436 to win, with Tim Lythe on seven and Tama Canning one.
Their chase got off to a disastrous start, when they slumped to 13 for 3, and they lurched to the close with ND sniffing a rare victory that will lift them up the State Championship table.
Brent Arnel put ND in control on Friday when he snared four wickets in rolling Auckland for 136 and it was Marshall who carried on the visitors' march to victory scoring the bulk of his side's second innings total of 265.
He was typically strong square of the wicket and looked largely untroubled until he skied a ball from Colin Munro and Adams was able to take a simple catch.
"It's the first time I've got 99," Marshall said. "I never wanted one but I've got one now. It was obviously disappointing not to get 100 but I guess 99 is better than nothing.
"I wasn't looking to do anything differently, it just didn't come off.
"In hindsight you might think that I should have played it differently, and I possibly should have, but I will live with it."
Marshall has been in good form in domestic cricket this season and, with innings of 153 and 99, is now averaging more than 50.
While an international recall is not out of the question, and he piled on the runs yesterday in front of selector Dion Nash, it is hard to escape Marshall's troubles at that level of the game in the past 12 months.
The recent Champions Trophy was the final straw, after he scored only 10 runs in three innings.
It prompted his dropping from the Black Caps for their two-test series against Sri Lanka but it has given him no joy to see the New Zealand top order struggle.
"It's my first time not being involved with New Zealand totally and I still want them to do really well," he said. "I just hope they win.
"I feel in good nick. It's been going reasonably well of late and when you're in good nick you have to make the most of it. Sometimes you can get a little ahead of yourself and try to play too many shots. Today it was just nice to get some runs.
"Communication has been good with the selectors. I just have to get some runs, and if I do I have an opportunity [of being picked again]. Things like today will help because you're always a chance when you get runs but there are other people around the country getting runs, too."
There haven't been many from the Auckland top order piling on scores and their batting in this match will be a cause for major concern. Northern set them a demanding target thanks to Marshall and useful knocks from Nick Horsley (58) and wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan (26 not out).
Canning and Lance Shaw were the best of the Auckland bowlers, with three wickets apiece and two for Andre Adams.
Auckland started disastrously and lost Tim McIntosh, Mal Loye and Richard Jones in quick succession. Rob Nicol and Lou Vincent tried to steady the ship but both fell towards the close of play.
As ND coach Andy Moles walked back to the dressing room at the close of play he said quietly, "good day at the office".
It certainly was.
