Wellington frustrated by rain

Wellington players were forced to chew their nails with frustration as hopes of an outright victory over Northern Districts were washed down the drain at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Wellington needed just one further wicket in the Plunket Shield match to claim an outright victory, while ND required 61 runs.

It could have been an intriguing final day’s play in the capital city, but instead it came to nothing as everyone was forced to sit on their hands before it was decided no play was possible and a draw was called after 5.30pm.

A win to Wellington would have elevated them from fifth to third, while ND, had they won, would have been elevated from fourth to third.

After five rounds Auckland sit at the top of the log on 65 points, followed by the Central Stags (63), Canterbury (50), ND (48), Wellington (44) and Otago (14).

Neither of the other two matches advanced beyond the

At Basin Reserve:

Wellington: Wellington Firebirds 400 (Devon Conway 156 not out) and 53-2 declared drew with Northern Districts 81-1 dec and 312-9 (BJ Watling 77).

Auckland 337 (Mark Chapman 104, Glenn Phillips 60; Matthew Bacon 4-78) beat Otago 154 (Benjamin Lister 3-39) and 86 (Matt McEwan

5-23) by an innings and 97 runs. Rangiora: Central Stags 261 and 226 (George Worker 83, Dane Cleaver 63; Cole McConchie 4-46, Todd Astle 3-38) lost to Canterbury 280 and

208-8 (Stephen Murdoch 47, Leo Carter 44; Ryan McCone 4-25) by 2 wkts.

Auckland Aces

65 (+19), Central Stags 63 (+6), Canterbury

50 (+18), Northern Districts 48 (+2), Wellington Firebirds 44 (+4), Otago Volts 14

(+4).

At Eden Park Outer Oval: At Mainpower Oval: Points after Round Five:

third day.

Black Caps legspinner Todd Astle became Canterbury’s leading first-class wicket-taker as his province beat Central by two wickets at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora on Saturday.

Astle took three wickets in the second innings to take his total of scalps at first-class level to 292, surpassing Mark Priest as Canterbury’s most successful bowler.

Offspinner Cole McConchie grabbed four as the Stags were dismissed for 226 runs.

Auckland advanced to the top of the ladder by beating Otago with a day to spare at the Eden Park Outer Oval.

Matt McEwan claimed his sixth first-class career five-wicket bag with figures of 5-23.

Auckland rolled Otago for just

80 runs in the second innings to claim victory by an innings and

97 runs.