Cricket: A day for bowlers in Plunket Shield

Bat dominated ball as the Plunket Shield resumed today, with that being no more evident than in Dunedin where 15 wickets fell for a tick over 300 runs.

Mitchell McClenaghan's fine form for Auckland of late continued as he grabbed six wickets in helping his side skittle Otago for 226. But the visitors found the batting conditions equally difficult and limped through to 80-5 at stumps, leaving the match well and truly in the balance.

Northern Districts and Canterbury both made better fists of their first innings at bat, totalling 283-8 and 321-8 respectively, but it was certainly a day for bowlers as the provinces wore the white clothing for the first time since November.

Since then Auckland claimed the HRV Cup before falling to Central Districts in the Ford Trophy final, and the Aces' successful summer appeared to translate into the longer form early today.

Auckland are currently second in the Plunket Shield behind Northern Districts, and they looked set to continue their charge up the table after rolling fifth-placed Otago. New ball pair Chris Martin and McClenaghan reduced the hosts to 38-3 after 12 overs, and it didn't get much better from there for the Volts.

A 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Derek de Boorder and Neil Broom, both of whom made half-centuries, was the only resistance Otago offered, and that was quickly curtailed by McClenaghan.

His third spell saw the 25-year-old left-armer claim the last five Otago wickets to finish with 6-87 from 21 overs on the bowler-friendly surface, putting his side well in control at the innings break.

Unfortunately for McClenaghan, Auckland's batsmen failed to back up his feats with the ball. Tim McIntosh's dismissal for a duck at the end of the second over was a sign of things to come, with Neil Wagner and Warren McSkimming both taking a brace to haul the Volts back into the contest.

In Gisborne, Northern Districts made a mediocre start to defending their lead at the top of the table, but Hamish Marshall at least gave the Knights some respectability with 82. Brother James chipped in with 43, which saw him become the province's leading first class run-scorer, while New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling finished the day unbeaten on 42.

The best of the Stags' bowlers was Zimbabwean Kyle Jarvis, who signed for Central at the conclusion of his nation's recent tour of New Zealand and celebrated today with 3-46.

Bottom-placed Canterbury provided the pick of the batting efforts in Rangiora, with dumped Black Caps wicketkeeper Reece Young set for a nervous night after ending the day on 98 not out. He capitalised on a solid foundation built by George Worker (64) and Peter Fulton (55) to give the Wizards the edge on points after the opening day.

For Wellington, 21-year-old Harry Boam took 4-48, his first four-wicket haul in first class cricket, while fellow youngster Scott Kuggeleijn chipped in with a pair of wickets.