Cricket: Rain, bad light stop Shield match progress

Mark Gillespie was the pick of Wellington's bowlers with 2-31. Photo / Dean Purcell

Rain arrived at both Plunket Shield fixtures yesterday.

Inclement weather delayed the start of day three of the match between Canterbury and Wellington at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Canterbury, who eventually began the day at 43-0 in their second innings, pushed on to 226-4 before bad light stopped play late in the third session.

Canterbury lead Wellington by 125 runs with six wickets in hand heading in to the final day.

Debutant opener Greg Dawson made 62 for the home side, while Henry Nicholls finished play unbeaten on 44 with Andy Ellis not out on 33.

Mark Gillespie was the pick of Wellington's bowlers with 2-31.

Meanwhile, at Nelson Park in Napier, Central Districts were making good progress in their first innings on day two of their clash with Otago before the weather intervened.

After starting the day on 67-0 in reply to Otago's first innings total of 207, CD moved to 179-2 at lunch before the rain arrived.

No further cricket was possible and opener Ben Smith (75no) and Will Young (6no) were due to resume today when play got under way.

Given CD rail by only 28 runs with eight wickets in hand, they will likely look to establish a solid lead on day three.