Cricket: Northern Districts build on 'dynasty' with Plunket prize

"Dynasty" got a mention yesterday as Northern Districts finally secured the Plunket Shield first class cricket prize they had threatened to win all season.

Having dominated the extended competition from the outset, it took until the second morning of the 10th and final round of matches before Northern could officially claim the four-day crown for the first time in three summers and add to the one-day championship title snared last month.

It is the first time the association has won two trophies in a season and coach Grant Bradburn reckons it won't be the last, based on the progress made this season.

"The most pleasing thing is we've created a lot of depth along the way. We've now genuinely got 20 guys who can step up and that all bodes well for a healthy future," said Bradburn.

"Management and senior players here have talked a lot about not just wanting to have a successful one or two seasons, it's a matter of creating a dynasty where success becomes commonplace."

Northern claimed the title when Auckland denied Canterbury first innings points yesterday.

Northern could only be denied if they failed to score a point against Central Districts in Napier while Canterbury had to secure maximum points.

The latter can't happen after Auckland crept past Canterbury's 203 on the second morning of their match.

Leg-spinner Todd Astle hasn't always been required by the Canterbury cricket team this season, but in recent games he has proved one of their best weapons.

The 24-year-old took five-wicket bags this month to wrap up wins against Otago and Wellington and he recorded career-best figures of six for 103 off 35 overs against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

Auckland, 185 for four overnight, duly passed Canterbury's first innings of 203 to hand the shield for 2009-2010 to Northern Districts. They were finally dismissed for 352, a lead of 149.

At stumps Canterbury had reached 138 for the loss of Rob Nicol's wicket with Michael Papps on 62 and Johannes Myburgh on 45.

Much as Canterbury had done on the first day, the Auckland batsmen prospered in the morning but fell away later. Andrew de Boorder and Anaru Kitchen put on 102 off 158 balls before Kitchen was caught by Astle for 62.

Astle didn't turn the ball sharply but his control of length and flight confounded the lower order. As the wickets tumbled de Boorder looked set for a century but he fell for 91 to the medium pace of Ryan McCone.

Canterbury had to cope with a stop-start final session punctuated by several showers. Papps and Myburgh were rarely troubled and, with two days to go, a good finish is in prospect.

Auckland need the outright win to have any chance of getting off the bottom of the table.