Soggy Sunday in Shield
Rain turned out to be the biggest player on the penultimate day of the third round of the Plunket Shield.
Poor weather across the country meant there was play in just one of the three matches yesterday, with only 49.1 overs in the one that did get started – the game between the Central Stags and Canterbury in Nelson
CENTRAL v CANTERBURY AT
SAXTON OVAL
After just 19 overs were able to be bowled on Saturday, there was then also a washedout first session yesterday, before the players were eventually able to restart proceedings in the afternoon.
Resuming on 204-8, Canterbury were only able to add eight runs to their total, with Todd Astle (53) making seven of those, as he brought up his 22nd first-class half-century.
Trailing by 48, Central lost openers Greg Hay and George Worker before erasing the deficit, but an unbeaten 92-run partnership between Ben Smith (53no) and Brad Schmulian (42no) got the home side back on track, leaving them 128-2, leading by 80, when bad light ended play early.
Central Stags 164 & 128-2 (Ben Smith 53no, Brad Schmulian 42no) v Canterbury 212 (Stephen Murdoch 75, Todd Astle 53; Willem Ludick 4-51, Ajaz Patel 2-6, Ray Toole 2-29, Seth Rance 2-82).
WELLINGTON v AUCKLAND AT BASIN RESERVE
No play was possible in Wellington due to rain.
The table-topping hosts will go into the last day on 104-2 in their second innings – a lead of 22 runs – with Devon Conway (32no) andmichael Bracewell (22no) at the crease.
Wellington Firebirds 91 & 104-2 v Auckland Aces 217
OTAGO v NORTHERN DISTRICTS AT UNIVERSITY OVAL
Rain also meant no play in Dunedin in this clash between the bottom two sides.
It means Otago will head into day four on 297-7 in their first dig, leading by 54 runs, with Michael Rippon (74no) to be joined by captain Jacob Duffy in the middle.
Northern Districts 243 v Otago Volts 297-7