Having reached 255 for seven after being sent in by Gareth Hopkins, Canterbury looked set to score some crucial lower-order runs through a fruitful partnership between Rob Nicol and Todd Astle. But, after adding 40, the eighth-wicket stand was snapped at 82 when Astle was caught for 44 from the bowling of Colin Munro. The Auckland allrounder was back into the action eight overs later, when he trapped Ryan McCone in front for 13.
Canterbury's innings came to a close the following over, with Hamish Bennett edging one to Hopkins to fall for four at the hands of Bruce Martin. Nicol was stranded on 66 not out; Munro and Colin de Grandhomme were the best of the visitors' attack, combining for six wickets.
In reply, Auckland got off to a poor start when Jeet Raval was removed for five by McCone. But Martin Guptill - one possible replacement if the national selectors opt to drop either Peter Fulton or Hamish Rutherford - steadied the ship with Anaru Kitchen.
The partnership stood at 107 and Guptill reached 50 when Andrew Ellis struck, combining with Tom Latham to send the opener back to the pavilion. Kitchen didn't last much longer before he too fell at the hands of Ellis, dismissed for a well-made 72.
Craig Cachopa scored slowly, taking 113 balls for his 28, but he survived until stumps and will resume today with Munro (21no) at the other end.
If Auckland upset the leaders, second-placed Otago stand to be the biggest benefactors, trailing their southern neighbours by just seven points entering the round. After two days of their match against Central Districts, Otago are well-placed to take advantage. The Volts trail Central Districts by 138 runs with eight wickets in hand in the first innings, set to push on and establish an imposing lead today.
After a rain-interrupted opening day, the hosts resumed on 93 for one at Saxton Oval in Nelson, adding only 24 runs to their overnight score before Ben Smith pushed a Jimmy Neesham delivery to the returned Jesse Ryder and departed for 54.
Will Young went the next ball and, while Greg Hay saw off the hat-trick delivery, Carl Cachopa fell a few overs later for 49. Hay (45) and Kieran Noema-Barnett (74) stemmed the bleeding and put on 114 for the sixth wicket but both then fell in quick succession. With Neesham (four for 74) and Nathan McCullum (three for 36) combining to wrap up the tail, CD were soon all out for 307, having earned two bonus points to Otago's four.
The visitors then went to work with the bat and, after losing Neil Broom for 12, Aaron Redmond raced through to 80 not out at stumps.
With Michael Bracewell departing for 35, Redmond will be joined today by Ryder, who hit an unbeaten 40 from 55 balls after coming in at No 4.
The other match of the round, a mid-table meeting between Wellington and Northern Districts, saw no play at Karori Park.
If conditions clear tomorrow, ND will resume at 169-2.
