Cricket: Northern Districts continue rich vein of form

Daniel Flynn. Photo / Getty Images

Another solid effort epitomised Northern Districts' Plunket Shield season yesterday.

The competition leaders ended the opening day of their ninth-round fixture against Otago in Whangarei on a healthy 325-6.

Three half-centuries dotted their scoreboard at Cobham Oval, the best of them by Brad Wilson, who resumes today on 87 and within sight of just his third first-class century.

The 24-year-old hit 10 boundaries in 203 minutes to build on the earlier good work of his openers, Daniel Flynn and Michael Parlane, who produced a settled platform in a partnership of 113.

Left-hander Flynn made 65 and Parlane 60, while Wilson was helped out in the final session by his skipper James Marshall, who made 41, and wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan with 21 not out.

For once, in-form youngster Kane Williamson wasn't heavily among the runs, this time making "only" 33.

Spinners Nathan McCullum and Nick Beard bowled more than half of their team's overs, McCullum sending down 29 overs for a return of 2-77 and Beard taking 3-66 off 26.

Meanwhile, Wellington did much to advance their Plunket Shield match against Canterbury - but it was only because of another insipid batting performance.

It left Canterbury with a firm grip on the game after just the first day of the four-day fixture in Rangiora.

The injury-ravaged Wellington side folded for 176 on a surface which had previously proven a graveyard for bowlers this summer, their blushes saved only by Luke Woodcock, who made a resolute 76.

The inadequacy of that total was borne out when Canterbury reached 103-1 in response by stumps as they seek maximum points in the penultimate round of the competition.

Wellington's top order was swept aside as the visitors slumped to 66-6 before Woodcock found a willing accomplice in Andrew Lamb, who chipped in with 28 batting at No 9.

But it was largely only Woodcock who stood firm, spending close to three hours at the crease before becoming one of four scalps for medium-fast bowler Brandon Hiini.

He returned the most impressive figures of 4-34 to help make up for the absence of fast bowler Hamish Bennett, who collected two early wickets before injury forced him out of the attack.

Bennett's new-ball partner Ryan McCone also chipped in with two wickets.

Wellington have lost their last five matches, falling well off the competition pace after a series of injuries, while Canterbury are in third place but cannot catch competition leaders Northern Districts.

- NZPA