Cricket: Boult unlocks Auckland top order

Trent Boult was in brilliant form against Auckland yesterday. Photo / Photosport

Spurred by a career-best effort from left-arm paceman Trent Boult, Northern Districts took a firm grip on their Plunket Shield game against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

Boult took five wickets for 35 as Auckland were routed for 136 midway through the afternoon of the first day of the four-day game. At stumps, Northern Districts were 113 for two, with opener Brad Wilson on 56.

Northern won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Auckland to bat on a pitch that had a tinge of green. The Auckland openers weathered the early overs from the experienced Graeme Aldridge and Brent Arnel.

When the lively Boult took over at the Panmure end he bowled Greg Todd with his first ball and also removed Jeet Raval and Anaru Kitchen. Young Andrew Mathieson had Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins leg before and the home team were 31 for four.

A partnership of 49 off 69 balls between Andrew de Boorder and Colin de Grandhomme raised Auckland hopes until Boult returned to the crease to have de Grandhomme caught behind for 28.

Auckland went to lunch at 86 for five and Boult had taken four of those wickets for 15 runs off nine overs.

Any hopes of a revival were quickly extinguished after the break as the tall Arnel, who had been consistent but hardly threatening, found a sweet spot outside the off stump and in two overs took three wickets for one run, all caught behind by Peter McGlashan.

He snared his sixth victim of the innings and Boult's fifth when he caught Daryl Tuffey for 18. Auckland's last two wickets put on 48, a warning to their bowlers that any earlier demons in the wicket had departed.

Boult's five-wicket haul eclipsed the five for 48 he achieved at the Basin Reserve against Wellington in November. It was a reward for bowling a good line at a lively pace, making the most of a helpful but hardly unplayable pitch.

There was no play in the Central Districts v Otago game at Napier and the Wellington v Canterbury game has been postponed.