Cricket: Weather likely to force a tame draw

Auckland and Central Districts' four-day State Championship match appears certain to peter out to a tame draw after the weather yesterday again shortened the day's play in Napier, leaving Auckland at 140 for three.

Overnight rain on an already sodden outfield meant play did not start until 2pm, with a minimum of 62 overs to be bowled.

Auckland resumed at 29 without loss in reply to Central's first innings of 214, with openers Richard Jones and Matt Horne carrying their innings into a third day.

Unfortunately for Jones, it wasn't third time lucky and he went for the addition of just two runs to his overnight score of eight, caught by wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs off Ewen Thompson.

Horne was joined by Rob Nicol and the pair put on 84 for the second wicket before Horne fell leg-before to left-arm spinner Regan West for 69.

Nicol himself went soon after, caught at slip by Ross Taylor off Thompson for 43 off a painstaking 164 balls.

The Auckland batsmen used the day as time in the middle ahead of next month's final and captain Brooke Walker was elevated to No 4 four in the order, compiling 10 not out in 51 balls.

Aaron Barnes was with him on two when play was halted with 3.2 overs left to be bowled and Auckland 140 for three.

* Canterbury's already slim chances of qualifying for the final were further eroded when rain also shortened the third day of their match against Northern Districts in Christchurch.

Northern finished the day at 218 for four, still well in arrears of Canterbury's 461.

Canterbury's prospects of the required outright victory is still possible, especially with Northern's batting order shortened by the broken hand suffered by batsman Alun Evans.

But Canterbury must still capture 14 wickets on what promises to be another overcast day with rain possible, as well as rely on Otago beating Wellington in Queenstown.

Northern went into the game needing maximum points, but their season has effectively been ended by Canterbury's big first innings.

Only 29.4 overs were bowled yesterday after a late start and early finish, Shane Bond and Paul Wiseman taking one wicket each as Northern added 69 runs.

BJ Watling extended his highest first-class score from 65 to 77 before falling leg-before to Bond. Allrounders Joseph Yovich and Mark Orchard added 36 for the fifth wicket.

Offspinner Wiseman completed a long spell with an over of seamers, including quite a convincing bouncer. With the new ball overdue, there could be a few more bouncers when or if play gets under way today, with Bond a more likely candidate than Wiseman.

- NZPA