Northern in charge thanks to Baker

Seamer James Baker’s second fivewicket bag in as many weeks has put Northern Districts on top of Canterbury at Cobham Oval in Whangarei in round seven of the Plunket Shield yesterday.

The Central Stags were finally dismissed by the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval for a mammoth 524, and look well on their way to picking up an outright win.

Otago’s clash with Wellington only got going yesterday, but the home side quickly got on top in Dunedin, thanks to the spin efforts of Mark Craig and Michael Rippon.

Baker claimed 5-52 as Canterbury were dismissed for 193 on the second day in Whangarei, a haul that followed his 6-74 a week ago.

Resuming at 115-5, Canterbury couldn’t push on, with Baker taking four in a row, including two in two balls to leave the visitors 139-9. But the last pair of Cam Fletcher and Andrew Hazeldine rallied to post a 10th-wicket stand of 54 and help their side through to 193.

Northern made it through to 81-0 at stumps, with Daniel Flynn not out on 46, and Henry Cooper on 29.

At Eden Park, the Central Stags resumed at 379-4 with captain Will Young on 141, and Tom Bruce on 41, but once Young was dismissed after 58 more runs were added, they lost their last five wickets while adding only another 87.

Still, they finished with 524 and four batting bonus points, as Young made 162 and Bruce 84, and by stumps, they had taken five of the 20 wickets they needed to claim a win over the Auckland Aces.

Rob O’Donnell made 41 for the Aces before Doug Bracewell trapped him in front, and Glenn Phillips (40) and Ben Horne (2) were the not out batsmen, with Auckland on 144-5.

Meanwhile, the start was delayed at University Oval in Dunedin, but once play got under way, the Wellington Firebirds made it through to 88-2 at lunch.

After the break, however, they lost 106-8. Michael Bracewell was not out on 58, accumulated across 117 balls in 161 minutes, but he received no support from any of the batsmen that came in after him, with spinners Craig and Rippon each picking up four wickets.

The Volts were 80-2 at the close of play.

At Cobham Oval, Whangarei: Canterbury 193 (Michael Pollard 48, Cam Fletcher 41; James Baker 5-52, Zak Gibson 3-61) met Northern Districts 81-0 (Daniel Flynn 46no). At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland: Central Stags 524 (Will Young 162, Tom Bruce 84) met the Auckland Aces 144-5 (Rob O’Donnell 41, Glenn Phillips 40no). At University Oval, Dunedin: Wellington

Firebirds 194 (Michael Bracewell 58no, Michael Papps 46; Mark Craig 4-42, Michael Rippon 4-42) met the Otago Volts 80-2

(Anaru Kitchen 46no).