Cricket: Northern Districts in charge

Northern Knights Joseph Yovich bats against AUckland. Photo / APN

Competition leaders Northern Districts are in a commanding position at the halfway point of their Plunket Shield match against last-placed Canterbury in Rangiora.

After an opening day in which 20 wickets fell, giving the Knights a 76-run overnight lead, Northern Districts' batsmen injected some solidity into proceedings today and, thanks to Joseph Yovich's century, ended the day on 331-5.

Veteran Yovich shared in a 156-run stand for the third wicket with James Marshall, who made 92 before becoming Willie Lonsdale's eighth scalp in the match. Knights captain Brad Wilson made 60 to back up his half-century from the first innings.

That gave the team at the top of the standings a huge 407-run lead with five wickets in hand as they chase their fourth win in six matches this season.

The Knights went into the second half of the competition with a 14-point lead over second-placed Auckland, and that lead could grow with the Aces' struggling to break down Wellington at Colin Maiden Park.

Auckland added only 17 runs to their overnight score of 303-7, with former New Zealand seamer Mark Gillespie picking up one of the wickets to fall to claim his 12th first class five-wicket bag.

In reply, Wellington openers Josh Brodie and Michael Papps put on a mammoth 236 runs for the first wicket, with both men notching centuries. Papps was trapped in front by Colin Munro on 111, and Munro repeated that feat the very next ball to send Harry Boam back to the pavilion for a golden duck.

Captain Grant Elliott also fell cheaply but that was the extent of the inroads made by Auckland's bowlers, with Brodie finishing the day unbeaten on 138 - the 24-year-old's highest first class score - to help his side reduce the deficit to just 51 runs.

Otago v CD

Otago opening batsman Craig Cumming has scored the team's first Plunket Shield hundred this season with a patient knock against Central Districts at the Queenstown Events Centre today.

His innings of 129 from 286 balls helped Otago crawl to 281 for eight declared. The former Black Cap combined with Sam Wells in a 102-run partnership for the fourth-wicket as Otago recovered from three for 75.

Wells posted his fourth half century this season but was undone by part-time bowler Jamie How shortly before the tea break for 55.

Jimmy Neesham (24 from 15) and Mark Craig (26 not out from 22) took the attack to Central, rattling on some quick runs before the declaration which left Central with a testing period of 10 overs.

Neil Wagner and Warren McSkimming picked up a wicket apiece to leave the visitors struggling at 10 for two at stumps on day two.

No play was possible on the opening day.