Brownlie ton helps ND extend lead

Dean Brownlie’s 14th first-class century helped Northern Districts extend their lead over the Central Stags past 300, setting up the prospect of a final-day chase for the Plunket Shield champions.

Northern had a lead of 376 at stumps on day three at Seddon Park in Hamilton, an advantage built on the back of Brownlie’s patient innings of 104.

The Stags will surely be eyeing a win to complete their successful defence of the national first-class title and send departing coach Heinrich Malan off on a positive note.

Northern lost captain Daniel Flynn early on in the day for 53, caught at leg slip off the bowling of Ajaz Patel. Flynn shared in a 108-run partnership with Henry Cooper, who made 78 before he was bowled by part-time spinner Tom Bruce on the stroke of lunch.

That brought Brownlie and Joe Carter together for an 117-run stand, with Carter making 71 before he was caught behind off Doug Bracewell’s bowling shortly after Brownlie departed, bowled by Patel.

The rest of Northern’s batsmen looked to up the tempo late in the day, with Tim Seifert adding 44 off 60 balls, Mitch Santner 54 off 57, and Daryl Mitchell 41 off 20 as they reached 463-6 at stumps.

The Otago Volts’ search for a second Plunket Shield win to finish the season has gone off course, with the Auckland Aces offering staunch resistance at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin.

Resuming at 177-6 on day three, trailing by 306, the Aces added 70 more runs in their first innings, with Ben Horne making 63 during his 128-ball stay at the crease.

Asked to follow on, Aces fared much better the second time around, with openers Graeme Beghin (110 no) and Sean Solia (81) proceeding to bat until just before stumps.