Rance strikes for CD
Central Districts, Auckland and Northern Districts all closed in on a win heading into the final day of the latest round of the Plunket Shield.
Seth Rance grabbed five wickets for Central Districts in Christchurch, as they forced Canterbury to follow on and still had them trailing going into the last day.
ND face what should be a straightforward chase against Wellington and Auckland should back their bowlers to get them a win over Otago.
CANTERBURY v CD
Canterbury were still a way off Central Districts’ big first innings total of 498-7 declared, even midway through their second dig.
Canterbury resumed the third day at 98-4 and didn’t last long, getting bowled out for 194 in 64 overs.
Michael Pollard and Cam Fletcher led a revival of sorts before Fletcher was out for 37 and Pollard went five overs later for 62, then Rance knocked over the lower order. Rance took 5-32, his third first-class five-wicket haul, from 32 overs.
CD then asked Canterbury to bat again and they were 143-4 at stumps, still 161 runs shy of making CD bat again.
In Canterbury’s second innings, Rance, Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner, who grabbed 2-17, took early wickets to have Canterbury at 52-4, before Cole Mcconchie and Fletcher started the survival mission.
AUCKLAND v OTAGO
Otago’s fortunes lay with wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder on the final day if they want to pull off an unlikely win.
Otago were 140-6 at stumps, still needing 181 runs to reach their target of 321, while Auckland will fancy their chances of taking the last four wickets to get their first win.
De Boorder is unbeaten on 39 and with him is Mark Craig on 14 not out, after Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen both fell for 29.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson followed up his seven wickets in the first innings with 2-30 and debutant medium-pacer Ben Lister had 3-41.
Earlier, Auckland resumed at 162-2 and were all out for 277, with Robbie O’donnell and Sean Solia going on to be the top scorers with 84 and 55 respectively. They added 120 runs for the third wicket.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was Otago’s best bowler, taking 3-46, while Warren Barnes, Mark Craig and Neil Wagner all grabbed two each.
ND v WELLINGTON
Northern Districts should be able win outright in their match, sitting at 112-3 at stumps on day three, still needing 178 runs to win, but Wellington aren’t completely out of it.
ND resumed the day at 237-7 and didn’t last much longer, facing 5.1 more overs before they were bowled out for 249.
No-one was able to improve on the scores of Dean Brownlie (82), Henry Cooper (48) and Anton Devcich (43), as Logan van Beek snared 4-60.
Wellington paceman Hamish Bennett took 3-65 and impressive newcomer Ollie Newton had
2-50 with his seamers.
Wellington’s second dig lasted 46 overs as they were rolled for just 158, setting ND 290 for the win.
The evergreen Luke Woodcock scored 30 opening the innings, but otherwise the best offerings were 40 from Fraser Colson and 24 from Tom Blundell in the middle order.
ND seamer James Baker took 4-34, while pacemen Zak Gibson and Brent Arnel took two wickets apiece.
Then in ND’S chase, opener Daniel Flynn scored 36 and No 4 Dean Brownlie finished the day unbeaten on 43 and with him was Baker on 6 not out.
Van Beek had taken another two wickets for 2-34. Tim Seifert had to retire hurt on 5 after he ducked into a bouncer.