Twin tons for Colin Munro

Centuries in both innings of the match from Colin Munro was not enough to lead Auckland to victory in their drawn Plunket Shield affair against Central Districts.

The four-day game at Colin Maiden Park, which was shortened to three days because of a damp pitch on Saturday, finished in a stalemate yesterday after CD had spent most of the game watching Munro bat.

Munro smashed 146 from 109 balls in Auckland’s first innings of 385-5 declared, then backed that up by blazing 142 from 103 balls the second innings, where Auckland scored 260-6 declared.

Munro, who was dropped from

the Black Caps squad, is the first Auckland batsman to score two tons in the same match since Richard Jones in March 2007, which was coincidentally against CD.

He is the seventh Auckland batsman to score centuries in both innings of a match and the first to do it away from Eden Park.

In his second century of the match, Munro hit 15 fours and five sixes, his hundred came from 60 balls and he brought up triple figures with a six.

Auckland had started the day at 44-2 and after losing a couple of early wickets, Munro and firstclass debutant Ben Horne (44 not out) added 106 for the fifth wicket.

Munro was out caught by Jesse Ryder off the bowling of part-time spinner Tom Bruce with the score at 249-5 and Auckland declared not long after, setting CD 390 runs to win in 60 overs.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was the best of the CD bowlers, taking 3-70 from 17 overs.

CD then faced 37 overs, scoring 115-1 before the teams shook hands and called it a draw.

Opener Ben Smith scored a half century with 52 and Greg Hay had made 41 not out by the end of play.