At a glance
❚ Wellington 171 and 172 (Matt Taylor 49; Doug Bracewell 3-22, Ben Wheeler 3-40, Navin Patel 2-40, Blair Tickner 2-49) lost to Central Stags 172 and 172-3 (Greg Hay 85no, Will Young 35, Ajaz Patel 34no) by 7 wickets. ❚ Auckland 181 and 345 beat Canterbury 211 and 291 (Leo Carter 63, Cameron Fletcher 53, Chad Bowes 42, Cole McConchie 42, Daniel Sams 33; Glenn Phillips 3-45, Danru Ferns
3-60, Ben Lister 2-46) by 24 runs.
❚ Northern Districts 456 and 135-9 dec (Jacob Duffy 5-49, Michael Rippon 4-30) v Otago
248 and 15-0.
CD v WELLINGTON
Needing just 54 more to win at the start of day three, Hay and nightwatchman Ajaz Patel (34 not out) did the job in their chase for 172.
Remarkably, 172 was the total in the final three innings after Wellington were skittled for 171 on day one, and the Stags took a first innings lead of one run.
Seamer Blair Tickner was the early destroyer for the Stags, taking New Zealand’s 41st first-class hat-trick in his first innings haul of 4-45.
He ended with six wickets for the match, while left-armer Ben Wheeler was excellent in his first match back from a long injury layoff.
Swinging the ball at pace, Wheeler had match figures of 5-83 while another Black Cap who is looking to make a return to international cricket, Doug Bracewell, snared 5-64 for the match.
Matt Taylor’s knock of 49 was the only significant contribution for Wellington in their second innings.
AUCKLAND v CANTERBURY
Black Caps Twenty20 wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips showcased his all-round talent to help the Aces sneak home in a tense finish.
A day after notching his second first-class century, 104 off 102 balls to help set Canterbury 316 to win, he unveiled some rarely seen off-spin talent to snare some vital wickets.
Phillips ended with 3-45 off 14 overs, including the big wickets of Cole McConchie for 42 and Cameron Fletcher for 53 which turned momentum Auckland’s way.
A brilliant leg side catch by wicketkeeper Ben Horne accounted for McConchie and a sharp grab at mid-on by Ben Lister made Fletcher the ninth wicket to fall and saw the visitors’ hopes plummet.
Captain Andrew Ellis, batting at No 10, gave them a glimmer of hope before he holed out charging at Lister and Auckland were celebrating.
OTAGO v ND
Otago need 329 more on the final day with all 10 wickets standing to keep Northern Districts anchored to the foot of the ladder.
Set 344 to win, Otago openers Brad Wilson and Hamish Rutherford got through eight overs without loss against Northern’s best two bowlers Ish Sodhi and Brent Arnel by the close of day three.
Having led by 208 on the first innings, thank to Tim Seifert’s 167 not out and a combined nine wickets between Arnel (5-76) and Sodhi (4-75), Northern needed quick runs to set up a tough chase for the hosts.
Seamer Jacob Duffy (5-49) and left-arm wrist spinner Michael Rippon (4-30) had other ideas as they crippled Northern’s second innings to 135-9 before captain Daniel Flynn declared.
The visitors, the only side yet to record a win, are still in the box seat given the rate wickets tumbled on days two and three.
Meanwhile, test openers Jeet Raval and Tom Latham both failed with the bat as the West Indies delivered a strong statement five days out from the first test.
The duo would have been eager for some welcome time in the middle and a decent glimpse of the tourist’s unfamiliar attack. They didn’t last long opening for New Zealand A at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval, near Christchurch, yesterday, however.
Red ball specialist Raval lasted 14 deliveries for his one run, edging Kemar Roach to skipper Jason Holder at third slip.
Latham made 24, sticking around for 76 minutes and 55 balls.
The West Indies continued their dominance of New Zealand A on day two of their three-day tour match, rolling them for 237 to hold an overall lead of 267 runs.