Cricket: Auckland collapse gives Wellington hope

The lunch break did the Auckland team no good on the third day of the State Championship final against Wellington. But by the close of play, they had again pulled things around sufficiently to remain in the driving seat.

After an untroubled morning session in superb conditions on Eden Park's outer oval, Auckland finished on 298 for five after a period in which Carl Cachopa posted his first half-century at this level and Tama Canning his third first-class century.

But from that position of power they folded badly.

Inspired by some genuine medium-fast bowling from Mark Gillespie, who bowled well in patches but somewhat ordinarily at other times, Wellington went on the attack. His six for 81 was a personal best.

Canning failed to add to his 106 in going leg-before to Gillespie first ball after lunch. Reece Young and Cachopa stayed for a time before Young was bowled by Gillespie.

When Cachopa followed in the same manner 11 runs later, the end was nigh.

The last three wickets fell at 325, well short of the 400-plus run target Auckland must have considered a formality after the first session.

Wellington had almost three hours to bat before stumps. That must have seemed a whole lot longer when captain Matthew Bell, obviously still hampered by a painful leg injury, fell for one to Kerry Walmsley.

Luke Woodcock and Michael Parlane were charged with the rescue operation and handled that well enough in adding 68 for the second wicket before Parlane was trapped leg-before by Canning for 37.

When Canning grabbed Sam Fairley for five soon after, Wellington's stocks slumped further.

Jesse Ryder, who had got through 23 overs of bristling medium-pace in Auckland's innings, helped Woodcock to take the score to 100 before he fell to a catch by wicketkeeper Young, this time off captain Brooke Walker, who had success with just his fourth delivery of the innings.

With a lead of 21 runs and with only six wickets in hand, Wellington will be looking to Woodcock and first-innings hero Neal Parlane to bat for a long time in the hope of setting Auckland a target and, more importantly, giving themselves the chance of securing the outright win they need to retain the trophy.