Ellis has Canterbury in control

Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis won a vital toss and then starred with the ball to put the Plunket Shield leaders in firm control against Otago.

After two days of heavy rain in Christchurch, which disrupted the start of play yesterday, no-one wanted to bat first at Hagley Oval.

Ellis sent Otago in and Canterbury made the most of helpful pitch conditions, leaving their southern rivals 124-8 at stumps on day one of their round-eight match.

It was 34-year-old medium pacer Ellis, who did much of the damage, snaring 4-31 from 20 overs.

Otago skipper and opener Brad Wilson showed plenty of grit, surviving the 65.4 overs in the day’s play, to finish 56 not out from 194 balls.

No other Otago batsman was able to stick around for a sufficient period of time with wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder the next highest scorer with 20.

Wellington recovered from 62-5 to get through to 245 against bottom placed Central Districts in Napier.

The Firebirds’ innings was anchored around a 104-run sixthwicket stand between wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi [70] and Peter Younghusband, who hit a patient 48 from 119 deliveries.

It was a valuable partnership after Wellington struggled early on, having been asked to bat first.

Hamish Bennett chimed in with a handy 25 batting at No 10 to get Wellington through to a respectable first innings total.

Seamer Seth Rance caused early trouble for CD, picking up four of the first five wickets to fall. Rance impressed with 4-61, alongside Blair Tickner, who was effective, taking 3-58.

Auckland, playing without suspended Black Caps batsman Colin Munro, fought back from 25-2 to get through to 322-9 against Northern Districts at Eden Park No 2.

Munro has been stood down for the match after using inappropriate language in a match against Canterbury last week - his third breach of the code in the past three years.

Opener Robbie O’Donnell began the rebuild job, top scoring with 75 from 143 balls.

ND looked to be on top with Auckland 159-5, but they were frustrated by the Aces’ middle and lower order.

Mark Chapman chipped in with 48 before Tarun Nethula teamed up for a quick scoring 74-run eighthwicket stand with Mitchell McClenaghan.