Cricket: Todd gives Otago edge over Auckland

A marathon innings of nearly four-and-a-half hours by Greg Todd put Otago on top against State Championship cricket front-runners Auckland after the first day of their match in Dunedin yesterday.

The University Oval has proven a happy hunting ground for the big all-rounder, who compiled a patient 78 and held together an innings which threatened several times to implode.

The hosts reached 268 and Auckland had stumbled to 46 for four by stumps.

Batting at four, Todd combined in several useful partnerships, first with Aaron Redmond, and later, with Warren McSkimming after coming to the wicket with Otago in trouble at 33 for two.

Todd said he had to curb his natural tendencies and play within himself.

"I normally like to hit the ball but the conditions didn't allow that," Todd said.

"It was tough out there."

Earlier, Auckland won the toss and asked Otago to bat on a very green-looking pitch.

The Otago innings looked to be teetering, but a 59-run partnership for the third wicket between Redmond and Todd helped restore some balance.

Redmond brought up his 50 with a french cut for four off Matt Horne but the bowler had his revenge an over later, when the batsman was caught by Richard Jones at second slip.

The leg spinning all-rounder has been one of Otago's most consistent performers with the bat. His 50 was Redmond's fifth this season.

At lunch, Otago were 94 for three and had done well in the conditions but all that good work was erased in the first over back.

Gareth Shaw struck a double blow, removing Marcel McKenzie (1) and Gareth Hopkins with consecutive deliveries.

McSkimming, who made his maiden first-class century in Otago's last match against Auckland, was in aggressive form before the break, smashing 40 runs from 35 balls before falling for 46 after tea.

Todd's marathon innings came to an end when he played-on a delivery from Aaron Barnes.

Bradley Scott and Warren McSkimming each took two wickets in the Auckland reply.

Neal Parlane, meanwhile, propped up Wellington's top order at the Basin Reserve yesterday after dumped Black Cap Daryl Tuffey had spearheaded an early Northern Districts assault in their State Championship match.

Parlane's patient 83 was the shining light in Wellington's disappointing first innings of 250.

The home team were shaky at 54 for six after Tuffey and Joseph Yovich ripped through the top order.

But by the time Mark Gillespie had removed Northern openers Brett Watling and Brad Wilson to leave the visitors at 47 for two, the opening day honours were reasonably even.

"It could have been a lot worse," Parlane said.

"One more wicket at the end there and we could almost have been on top."

Wellington nearly were, thanks to the 26-year-old who saved his side from a first innings embarrassment against his former province.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Wellington's top order didn't turn up despite a flat Basin Reserve track.

Tuffey found the rhythm that had dramatically deserted him in the third one-day international at Eden Park.

- NZPA