KEY POINTS:
A maiden century by Martin Guptill continued Auckland's blazing start to the State Shield one-day competition yesterday.
The 21-year-old right-handed opener helped himself to a career-best 119 as Auckland scored a robust 312 for eight against Canterbury at Rangiora.
That set the scene for his team's 59-run win as they restricted Canterbury to 253 for nine, despite 104 by discarded international Michael Papps, with part-time spinner Rob Nicol in the money after a career-best return of five for 54.
Guptill's century came just three days after Richard Jones and Nicol posted hundreds as Auckland amassed 341 for five to beat Northern Districts by 35 runs.
It was Guptill's turn to shine yesterday on a pitch conducive to fluent strokeplay as he hit 13 fours off 139 deliveries before departing in the 47th over. He put on 71 for the first wicket with Paul Hitchcock, who made 42, then 105 for the second with Jones, who underlined his form by making 57 off 54, including seven fours and one six.
Auckland scored at a healthy clip throughout and the lower order came to the party also, with Andre Adams slamming 36 off 19 balls and Reece Young 24 off 22.
None of the Canterbury bowlers were spared, with young speedster Hamish Bennett a target as he conceded 82 runs off his 10 overs while veteran Chris Harris went for 62 off his full allocation.
Canterbury began their pursuit of a demanding target with determination as Papps and Shanan Stewart scored 138 for the first wicket in 28 overs.
They were parted only when Stewart was dismissed for 62 off 80 balls when Auckland turned to their slower bowlers to stem the runs.
Offspinner Nicol did the job, finishing with his best figures at this level.
He began by enticing a false shot from Stewart then repeated the effort to account for Johann Myburgh for 15.
Canterbury ended the 40th over at 194 for two, and in the next over Canterbury captain Kruger van Wyk was caught for 12 before Papps raised his century with a push through the covers.
Papps then became Nicol's third victim, with a thin edge accepted by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins as Canterbury's chase stalled at 200 for four.
The required run rate climbed into double figures and Nicol was the beneficiary as the Canterbury batsmen lashed out in hope as the overs were whittled down.
ND V CD
Central Districts pocketed their first points with a commanding win over Northern Districts in Whangarei.
They bowled and fielded with vigour to defend their moderate score of 219 for eight at Cobham Oval as Northern Districts capitulated.
Seemingly cruising at 56 without loss in the ninth over, Northern Districts stumbled as they lost six wickets for the addition of just 16 runs before being dismissed for 135.
Openers Nick Horsley, with 29, and BJ Watling, 21, looked at ease in posting a half-century stand before the home team buckled badly as left-arm medium-fast bowler Ewen Thompson turned the game on its head.
Thompson took four of the first five wickets to fall as Central Districts suddenly asserted themselves.
He accounted for both the openers, then Daniel Flynn, James Marshall, Mark Orchard and Kane Williamson all came and went in an alarming rush as a combination of average batting and good bowling undermined the cause of the home team.
Thompson finished with the flashy figures of four for 32 and was well supported by part-time spinner Jamie How and Brendon Diamanti, who picked up two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Central Districts owed much to Greg Hay and Tim Weston for giving their bowlers a defendable total.
The visitors were teetering at 84 for four before Hay hit an unbeaten 63 and Weston 55 in a fifth-wicket stand of 103.
Seamer Graeme Aldridge returned two for 37 off 10 overs, including the wicket of How, who was caught at short cover by Watling for 27.
How's New Zealand teammate Ross Taylor worked diligently to reach 32 before he top edged a pull shot and was caught by Aldridge.
- NZPA
