Otago openers inflict the pain

Forgive the Central Districts bowlers for trying to avoid bumping into Hamish Rutherford and Brad Wilson at the moment.

There is every chance they are sick of the sight of the two Otago openers.

Rutherford and Wilson bit by bit have gone about pulling the Central Districts bowling attack apart in round one of New Zealand’s Plunket Shield four-day domestic cricket competition.

On day one they posted a 272 run opening stand as both posted centuries.

On day three on Monday they were back in the runs again.

For the second time, they recorded a century opening stand finishing the day 117 for none.

Earlier in the day Greg Hay posted his eighth first-class century to help Central Districts into a healthy position.

Opening the batting the Hay scored 136 to provide the backbone to Central Districts’ 365 for five declared.

The 365 for five was in reply to Otago’s whopping first innings total of 479 for five declared.

Despite trailing by 114 runs after both team’s first innings the hope for Central Districts was to pick up early wickets and make a game of it.

Instead, Rutherford and Wilson went about dousing those hopes by increasing the lead from 114 runs to 231 runs with 10 wickets still in hand.

The finished the day 117 for none with Rutherford on 71 and Wilson 44.

It sets the Otago bowlers up for a shot at knocking over Central Districts on the final day in Nelson to capture the victory.

The odds are stacked against them given just 10 wickets have fallen in the first three days of play.

In Mt Maunganui, in the fixture between Auckland and Wellington, Auckland started the day 65 for three with a 73 run lead in their second turn at bat.

Just like in their first innings total of 269 there were plenty of starts for Auckland without a big contribution.

Again Dane Hutchinson provided a vital knock batting at No 10 with his 38 helping Auckland to 278.

It went with his late order heroics in the first innings where Hutchinson was the second top scorer with 48.

The second innings total of 278 left Wellington with the required target of 275 runs in their final innings.

Openers Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock got through to the

end of day three unscathed ticking off 66 of those runs without losing a wicket.

It leaves Wellington needing 209 runs for victory on the final day on Tuesday.

In Christchurch, Canterbury hold a 123 run lead with six wickets in hand heading into the final day against Northern Districts.

Northern started day three 242 for five in pursuit of Canterbury’s mammoth first innings total 445.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert played a key hand in ensuring there were not any late order wobbles with his knock of 81 as Northern finished on 415.