Cricket: Auckland win again as trio keep runs flowing

Auckland's Martin Guptill bating during his century innings at the Ford Trophy one day cricket match between Auckland Aces and Wellington Firebirds at the Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland, New Zealand.

Auckland are two from two and rolling along nicely in the domestic 50-over competition after cleaning up Canterbury at Eden Park yesterday.

It follows a crushing 193-run win over Wellington in the opening Ford Trophy round and, once again, there were solid contributions from three leading batsmen.

Having restricted Canterbury to 199 in 45.3 overs - Henry Nicholls with 60 and Neil Broom 54 being the major contributors - Auckland chased down the target in just 32.3 overs.

And just as they had against Wellington, ODI opener Martin Guptill, captain Rob Nicol and hard-hitting Craig Cachopa did the major damage.

Guptill followed his century against Wellington with 55 off 31 balls yesterday, Nicol finished unbeaten on 59 and Cachopa's 51 off 35 deliveries topped it off.

"We've had a little bit of luck here and there," Nicol said of the trio. "But we've just been trying to play to our strategy and go from there.

"It's always nice to have 'Gup' back and around the group, and Craig is a quality player."

Nicol is delighted with his players rolling their sleeves up and their attitude.

"I haven't really had much to say in team meetings because basically everyone is buying into how we want to play," he said.

Otago, on the back of a maiden century from Nathan McCullum, saw off Wellington by 16 runs at Queenstown.

McCullum's 119 off 109 balls and Iain Robertson's 62 revived Otago's innings and pushed them to 286 for eight after earlier being 65-4. Their stand of 150 is a new Otago fifth-wicket record.

Wellington got to 276 for nine, with former international James Franklin left stranded on 98 not out at the end.

Northern Districts got their first win of the campaign, by 13 runs, over Central Districts in New Plymouth.

Auckland host Otago at Eden Park on Friday, the same day Canterbury play CD in Timaru and ND host Wellington at Mt Maunganui tomorrow.

Points after two rounds: Auckland 10, Otago 9, CD 5, ND 4, Canterbury 0, Wellington 0.