Cricket: Auckland make all the running as Otago succumb

Competition leaders Auckland consolidated their position with an 86-run victory over Otago in Queenstown yesterday.

For the fourth consecutive day, the players were greeted by cloudless skies, high temperatures and perfect playing conditions but it was Auckland who made all the running yesterday.

Resuming their second innings at 173 for five, Auckland lost Craig Pryor in the fifth over but Aaron Barnes with 41 and Reece Young, with an unbeaten 23, assisted the total through to 247 for nine before the declaration was made.

Otago were left with 75 overs to score the 247 runs required for victory but they made the worst possible start. Craig Cumming scored a single from Tama Canning's first delivery but the next ball was edged by Mohammed Wasim to Rob Nicol in the slips and Otago's woes began.

Cumming and Chris Gaffaney managed to take the total through to 16 off nine overs before lunch but during the second session Auckland picked up five wickets in the space of 35 overs for 92 runs - Gaffaney for 20, Cumming, 14, Marcel McKenzie, 10, Robbie Lawson, 14, and Jordan Sheed, 7, all succumbing to the Auckland pressure.

It was only a matter of time before Otago surrendered, despite lower order batsmen Peter McGlashan, 27, and Shayne O'Connor, 30, adding some spice during the latter stages of another limp performance by the Otago batsmen.

Auckland banked six points for their clinical final-day performance, leaving Otago two points from a game they were competitive in throughout, but lacking a badly needed killer blow.

Northern Districts' game against Canterbury in Hamilton was washed out.

Auckland lead the table after seven rounds on 26 points. Wellington have 25, Northern Districts 14, Otago 14, Central Districts 12 and Canterbury 8.

- NZPA