Cricket: Auckland do well to lead

Anaru Kitchen's second successive century in the State Championship helped steer Auckland to a first innings lead over Northern Districts at Eden Park yesterday.

By the end of the second day the hosts, on the back of a 199-run partnership between Kitchen and Reece Young, had reached 397 for 6 - a lead of 91.

In perfect conditions, the Auckland batsmen prospered. Openers Steven Croft and Richard Jones took the overnight score of 14 for 0 to 67 before Croft was caught behind off Graeme Aldridge. Rob Nicol fell to Joseph Yovich 13 runs later. Jones and Kitchen added 58 at a run-a-minute for the third wicket before Jones (62) was trapped leg before by Yovich.

His dismissal brought Young to join Kitchen and for the next three hours, bat dominated ball.

Kitchen, with 125 in his last outing, was controlled against the steady, but rarely threatening Northern attack. He and Young

needed just 89 minutes to pile on the first 100 runs of their partnership. ND captain James Marshall had to switch his attack because strike bowler Brent Arnel had a side strain.

The second new ball was the turning point in the innings with Young then Kitchen falling at 337.

Northern stalwarts Aldridge, Yovich and Bruce Martin toiled bravely, Aldridge taking three wickets for 67 from 23 overs.

Auckland regrouped late in the day with Gareth Hopkins and Colin de Grandhomme adding a quickfire 54 for the sixth wicket. before Hopkins was claimed by Brad Wilson at second slip off Aldridge.

More of the same from the rest of the batsmen in the first session this morning should play Auckland into a strong position.