An unbeaten century for Parnell by Tim McIntosh in Auckland club cricket might be the sign that Auckland Aces coach Tony Sail has been looking for as he searches for an opening partner for Blair Pocock.
McIntosh quit the game midway through last season and took a rest justwhen he looked likely go further. He had scored two centuries for the New Zealand Academy XI, against the Australian Academy XI and in a one-dayer against Wellington.
The 20-year-old also had two Shell Trophy games for Auckland, scoring 41 against Wellington on debut.
McIntosh's patient innings of 125 enabled Parnell to set up a match-winning lead of 127 over North Shore and it was never challenged as Parnell bowlers Roger Henderson, who ended with match figures of 10 for 58, and Simon Dykes (8 for 75) sliced through Shore's batting for an innings victory.
Howick Pakuranga claimed the championship lead after two rounds with an unexpected but deserved four-wicket victory over East Coast Bays.
Grafton held second place by cruising to a 10-wicket win over Takapuna. Grafton needed just 37 after Barry Locke (6 for 28) had shattered a likely Takapuna second-innings fightback.
Suburbs New Lynn took first-innings points from Cornwall, but last season's champions needed only 96 to win after dismissing the westerners for 82 in their second innings.
Birkenhead suffered relegation last season, but they signalled their resolve to return by taking the lead in the first division after beating Waitakere City by 105 on the first innings. Spinner Paul Bracewell was the key figure for the winners, with match figures of 8 for 89.
Papatoetoe conceded first-innings points and then set Eden Roskill 183 to win, but the strong Papatoetoe attack of Gareth Wood and Neil Ronaldson put paid to that challenge.
Ellerslie beat University Akarana on the first innings.
