Wellington in sight of another early win
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, they will have completed a win inside three days for the second week in a row, after beating Auckland last time out.
WELLINGTON v OTAGO at Basin Reserve, Wellington
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 on Tuesday.
Hamish Bennett had 3-31 and Logan van Beek 3-33 as Otago were dismissed for
184 in their first innings, still some 185 runs in arrears.
Jeetan Patel had 2-68, while Luke Woodcock and Ollie Newton also chipped in with one apiece, and it was tailenders Neil Wagner and James Duffy who 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, with Anaru Kitchen joining them back in the sheds before stumps, where they were
107-6.
Bennett and Ian McPeake each picked up a brace for Wellington, who should complete their win on Wednesday, with Derek de Boorder, not out on 2 the only recognised batsman remaining for the visitors.
Wellington 369 met Otago 184 (Neil Wagner 43, James Duffy 32 no; Hamish Bennett 3-31, Logan van Beek 3-33; Jeetan Patel 2-68) and 107-6 (Rob Nicol 39, Jimmy Neesham 38, Hamish Bennett 2-27, Ian McPeake
2-25)
CENTRAL DISTRICTS v AUCKLAND at Saxton Oval, Nelson
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 five-wicket 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 GuptillBunce 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 today if they are to get close enough to Central to set up a fourthinnings chase.
He was not out on 42, alongside Donovan Grobbelaar on 1, and they trail by 205 with four wickets remaining.
Central Districts 472 (Jesse Ryder 175, Doug Bracewell 97, Bevan Small
64, Dane Cleaver 56; Lockie Ferguson 5-129, Matt McEwan 3-78) met Auckland 267-6 (Michael GuptillBunce 78, Mark Chapman
72, Ben Horne 42 no; Blair Tickner 3-47, Seth Rance
2-44)
CANTERBURY v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
A Cantabrian collapse and a solid knock by Bharat Popli for Northern Districts have left this match intriguingly poised at the midway point.
Resuming on 289-4, not out batsmen 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. In the end, the wickets were spread around, with Kuggeleijn claiming three, and Brett Randell, Joe Walker and Anton Devcich a brace apiece.
The last man out was Andrew Ellis, who is returning from a broken bone in his left, non-bowling hand, and could only manage a one-handed backhand swipe with his right in his one-ball stay at the crease, where he was bowled by Devcich.
Popli led the way for Northern as they made it to
156-4 at stumps, and was not out on 76, joined by nightwatchman Brett Randell, who was on 0.
Sams followed on from his cameo with the bat, compiling figures of 2-22 from his 15 overs, while offspinner Tim Johnston had 2-38.
Canterbury 381 (Cole McConchie 85, Ken McClure
79, Chad Bowes 65, Daniel Sams 49; Scott Kuggeleijn
3-88, Anton Devich 2-17, Brett Randell 2-50, Joe Walker 2-85) met Northern Districts 156-4 (Bharat Popli 76 no, Daniel Flynn 30; Daniel Sams 2-22, Tim Johnston 3-38)