Former Northland Black Cap James Marshall's heroics during Northern Districts' final Plunket Shield match was only enough for his team to secure a draw.
Kaipara Flats' Marshall scored 210 runs with the bat, 54 in the first innings and 156 not out in the second, and took one wicket for
two runs, against eventual Plunket Shield victors Central Districts to help drag their match into the final day.
In response to Northern's below-par 267, Central scored a hearty 418, leaving Northern in desperate need of a substantial second innings on Friday to avoid losing outright.
Marshall's 156 not out was the mainstay of Northern's second innings after his side's top order, which includes fellow Northlanders Joey Yovich (0) and Brad Wilson (28), were all rolled cheaply. Marshall combined with recent Black Cap debutant Corey Anderson (89), in a partnership worth 155 runs, as Northern declared on 435.
It meant Central needed 285 for an outright victory on the final day. However, because second-placed Otago lost their match to Wellington, the result of Central's match didn't matter and Central Districts could celebrate as they pulled stumps at 116-2 with Jamie How unbeaten on 84.
