Auckland up the ante
The fourth innings holds no fears for Auckland.
For the second Sunday in succession the Aces have successfully chased a potentially tricky Plunket Shield total to move to third on the standings.
Last week it was 257, to beat Canterbury by four wickets on Eden Park’s Outer Oval, with nine wickets being the winning margin this time around against Northern Districts. Set 125, after bowling ND out for 262 in their second innings, Auckland were barely troubled in reaching 127-1.
For Canterbury, who need six runs to beat Otago, it’ll be shortlived, while Wellington have a bit of work to do on day four if their healthy first innings lead over Central Districts is to translate into outright points.
Chasing 125 to beat ND, Auckland didn’t make a race of it. When Scott Kuggeleijn nicked out Sean Solia with just two of those
125 on the board, Auckland could have got the wobbles.
But Solia’s opening partner Graeme Beghin was joined by Glenn Phillips and the pair added an unbeaten 125 to get the Aces home with nine wickets.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland: Northern Districts
134 and 262 (Joe Carter 69, Tim Seifert 51, Ish Sodhi 47, Nick Kelly
30) lost to Auckland 272 and 127-1 (Glenn Phillips 57 no, Graeme Beghin 54 no; Sean Solia 3-61, Will Somerville 3-87) by 9 wickets.
A late afternoon rearguard left competition leaders Central Districts with some hope of getting a draw against Wellington.
The Firebirds banked themselves a 271-run first innings lead after Jeetan Patel’s 42 pushed their final score out to 429.
The Stags still trail by 87, after getting to stumps at 184-3, but they’ve at least given themselves a chance.
At Saxton Oval, Nelson: Central Stags 158 and 184-3 (Brad Schmulian 60, Greg Hay 52, George Worker 35) met Wellington 429.
It’s nearly four losses from four for Otago. The Volts left fifthplaced Canterbury with just 15 runs to win in Dunedin, after being bowled out for 246 in their second innings. The visitors could only get to 9-1 in the three overs before stumps.
At University of Otago Oval, Dunedin: Otago 206 and 246 (Cam Hawkins 76, Hamish Rutherford
63; Kyle Jamieson 3-38, Will Williams 3-60, Cole McConchie 2-33) met Canterbury 438 (Cam Fletcher 107, Leo Carter 76, Henry Shipley 76, Kyle Jamieson 67, Chad Bowes 34; Matt Bacon 4-97) and 9-1.