Cricket: Northern Districts face big chase as Aces shine

Bowler Brent Arnel. Photo / Christine Cornege

Wickets tumbled in Whangarei as Northern Districts closed day two of their Plunket Shield clash with Auckland needing 264 runs to win outright.

Auckland began yesterday morning at Cobham Oval on 252-9 in their first innings, but when Bhupinder Singh was bowled by former test paceman Brent Arnel a procession of 22 wickets began.

ND were rolled for 136 in their first effort as another former test seamer, Andre Adams, took 6-71 and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins pouched half a dozen catches. Adams was well supported by left-armer Michael Bates, who picked up 4-37.

With seamers dominating on the lively Whangarei wicket Trent Boult and Tim Southee combined for six wickets to ensure the Aces were all out for 139 in their second dig. Anton Devcich chipped in with a brace of scalps and paceman Joe Baker claimed the other wicket during a miserly session of bowling, which conceded only 16 runs from 11 overs.

To complete the rout Adams trapped ND's nightwatchman Boult without scoring.

In Napier, Wellington hammered the CD bowlers to all corners of Nelson Park in reply to the first-innings total of 253.

CD tried eight different bowlers as Stephen Murdoch made 103 from 223 balls before he became Adam Milne's third victim of the innings. Murdoch put on 108 for the fourth wicket with skipper Grant Elliot (62) and also shared in a 119-run fifth-wicket stand with James Franklin, who ended the day unbeaten on 127.

At Rangiora, Canterbury pushed through to 420-9 before they declared. In reply Otago closed the day, when bad light stopped play, on 122-2, with Michael Bracewell (4no) and Neil Broom (14no) at the crease.