Cricket: Richardson just a big hit away

Kyle Mills found some redemption but Mark Richardson was left a little unfulfilled as their Auckland team had the better of Canterbury at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday.

But Auckland's advantage in the State Championship match was not as pronounced as it might have been after Canterbury were rolled for just 111 in their first innings.

The visitors responded with 156 for six by stumps after Richardson and Richard Jones put on 64 for the first wicket at a rate of four runs an over.

Richardson scored 35 before being caught off the bowling of Andrew Ellis and still needs six in the second innings to reach the milestone of 10,000 first-class runs.

Lou Vincent, on 48 not out, and captain Brooke Walker, on eight, shared an unbroken stand of 38 for the seventh wicket to halt Canterbury's comeback.

The seam bowlers relished heavy overcast conditions, their dominance interrupted only by some bludgeoning batting from Canterbury's Hayden Shaw, who made 39, a fluent partnership between Jones and Richardson, and Vincent's confident strokeplay.

No one would blame Canterbury captain Peter Fulton if he concedes the next toss at Hagley Oval.

Criticised for putting Wellington into last week, when hardly a wicket fell on the first day, Fulton this time regretted batting.

Mills, who finished with five for 33 from 14 overs, was in fine form as he dismissed openers Michael Papps and Tim McIntosh cheaply to complete a six-over spell of two for five.

He later returned to remove Tim Papps and Paul Wiseman and improve his figures to four for 12.

When Wade Cornelius became his third leg-before victim, Mills completed his second five-wicket bag at first-class level.

Fellow international Andre Adams also caused problems for the home side, taking four for 45.

Adams unveiled deft juggling skills to catch Fulton at the third attempt and enticed Craig McMillan to have a go at a short, rising delivery outside off-stump which the batsman succeeded only in skying to mid-off.

Adams returned his impressive bowling analysis despite conceding five boundaries to Shaw in his 10th over.

When Auckland replied, Jones punished anything dropped short in reaching 35.

Richardson slipped easily into the role of senior partner when Jones departed and the recently retired international went to tea on 29 with his side on 76 for one.

But Ellis had no sooner lured Matt Horne into a slips catch after the resumption than he persuaded Richardson to drive uppishly to mid-off.

- NZPA