Wellington in sight of second outright victory

Wellington are on the verge of a second big win in as many rounds in the Plunket Shield.

They need just four more wickets to complete a win over Otago, who still trail by 78 after being asked to follow on.

Should they get there today, Wellington will have completed a win inside three days for the second week in a row, after beating Auckland last time out.

WELLINGTON v OTAGO

It was a team bowling effort, rather than the work of any one individual, as Wellington rolled through Otago at the Basin Reserve, taking 15 wickets on the second day yesterday.

Hamish Bennett had 3-31 and Logan van Beek 3-33 as Otago were dismissed for 184 in their first innings, still 185 runs in arrears.

Jeetan Patel had 2-68, while Luke Woodcock and Ollie Newton also chipped in with one apiece. Tailenders Neil Wagner and James Duffy offered the most resistance, smacking 43 and 32 not out after coming together with their side 112-8.

Otago were then 24-3 in their second dig, before Rob Nicol and Jimmy Neesham came together, but they could only must 39 and 38 before being dismissed. Anaru Kitchen joining them back in the sheds before stumps, where they were 107-6.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS v AUCKLAND

Auckland have plenty of work to do after failing to build partnerships in their response to Central Districts at Saxton Oval in Nelson.

Central resumed on 395-6 as the day began, with Jesse Ryder looking to add to his first-day effort of 165. He only managed 10 more runs, however, before being caught behind off Lockie Ferguson, but a 61-ball 64 from Bevan Small helped Central make it through to 472 before they were dismissed, with Ferguson taking 5-129, his seventh fivewicket bag in first-class cricket.

Auckland were in trouble early, losing Black Caps incumbent Jeet Raval and Rob O’Donnell to be 27-2.

Captain Michael Guptill-Bunce led the way, making 78 before he was caught on the leg side off Seth Rance, and it fell to allrounder Mark Chapman to pick up the slack.

Chapman made it to 72, but didn’t last through to stumps, out caught behind off the bowling of Doug Bracewell six overs shy.

Auckland’s biggest partnership was the 83 Chapman and wicketkeeper Ben Horne managed for the sixth wicket, and they will need Horne to kick on this morning if they are to get close enough to Central to set up a fourth-innings chase.

CANTERBURY v NORTHERN DISTRICTS

A Cantabrian collapse and a solid knock by Bharat Popli for Northern Districts have left this match intriguingly poised.

Resuming on 289-4, Cole McConchie and Cam Fletcher moved Canterbury on to 304, before McConchie was trapped in front by Scott Kuggeleijn for 85.

That dismissal precipitated a collapse, with Canterbury’s last five wickets falling for the addition of just 77 more runs - 49 of them scored by Australian debutant Daniel Sams.

Popli led the way with an unbeaten 76 as Northern reach 156-4 at stumps.