Firebirds fumble Shield chances
Auckland can’t win the Plunket Shield but they are playing a significant role in deciding who will.
The Aces, who will finish third, are in a strong position after day two of their four day match against the Wellington Firebirds with five wickets in hand in their second innings and a lead of 254 runs.
Wellington now needs an outright victory in the final round of the season to be a chance at knocking the Central Stags off the top of the table but they will need a big second innings with the bat to achieve it.
Two Jeetan Patel wickets (Sean Solia and Glenn Phillips) in consecutive balls late in the day has given Wellington some hope of limiting the damage. Mark Chapman (21) and Ben Horne (9) are the not out batsmen.
Earlier in the day, Auckland – who scored 304 on the opening day – bowled the Firebirds out for just 174, a disappointing effort for a side with a chance at winning the Plunket Shield.
No 10 Ian McPeake top scored with 33 as Auckland speedster Lockie Ferguson ripped through the Firebirds with five wickets.
McPeake and number 11 Hamish Bennett (24) combined for a 58 run partnership for the tenth wicket to bring some respectability to the scoreboard.
Martin Guptill’s disappointing match with the bat continued in Auckland’s second
innings. He was dismissed for 14 in the first innings and was caught behind, off the bowling of van Beek, for a 16-ball duck in the second.
The Central Stags’ chances of salvaging a draw were given a boost when the players left the field early because of bad light at Napier’s Nelson Park.
Northern Districts at 331-6 have four wickets in hand with an overall lead of
366.
Openers Henry Cooper (52) and Daniel Flynn (33) gave Northern a solid start before former Black Cap Corey Anderson made 27.
Anton Devcich took advantage of their patient work when he smashed a
76-ball 106 in a blistering knock that featured 14 fours and two sixes.
With assistance from wicket-keeperbatsmen Tim Seifert (52 from 58 balls), Devcich ensured his side was in the box
seat heading into day three.
The six Northern wickets to fall was a stark contrast from the opening day of the match when 20 wickets fell.
Daryl Mitchell (21) and Scott Kuggeleijn (11) were unbeaten at the crease when the players left the field.
Spinner Ajaz Patel was the pick of the Central bowlers with four wickets.
In a dead rubber match between the two bottom sides, a 121-run partnership between former Black Cap Jimmy Neesham (79) and Michel Rippon (55) helped Otago secure first innings points over Canterbury.
Otago, who started the day at 5-1, were eventually bowled out late on the second day for 264 in response to Canterbury’s first innings of 225.
Neesham’s knock came at a run a ball but Rippon’s patient effort took 157 balls. He was the last wicket to fall.