Cricket: Wellington on top early against depleted Auckland

Wellington found a flat track and depleted bowling attack much to their liking before Auckland fought back late on the first day of their Plunket Shield match.

Wellington raced to 151 for one at lunch at the Basin Reserve, with young opener Josh Brodie later advancing to his second first-class century.

Without fast bowler Daryl Tuffey and legspinner Tarun Nethula, who are in the New Zealand Invitation XI starting a three-day match against Pakistan in Queenstown today, Auckland did well to restrict Wellington to 327 for seven.

Sixteen wickets tumbled in Whangarei with Northern Districts holding the whip hand after rolling Central Districts for just 94. Career-best figures of six for 49 by seamer Graeme Aldridge helped skittle the visitors at Cobham Oval before Northern Districts also found runs hard to come by.

Peter Fulton scored an unbeaten 114 as Canterbury reached 329 for five at stumps against Otago in Rangiora.