Cricket: Auckland short in first innings

Canterbury consolidated their lead in the domestic four-day competition yesterday when they won a long battle with closest pursuers Auckland for first-innings points at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Resuming the third day on 213 for three in pursuit of Canterbury's 443, Auckland were eventually dismissed for 403.

By the time bad light stopped play 11 overs early, Canterbury had increased their advantage to 87 runs with nine wickets and one day remaining.

In contrast to the free scoring of Sunday when Lou Vincent slammed a century in one session, Auckland dug in yesterday as they discovered some demons in what had been a docile pitch.

Overnight batsman Rob Nicol epitomised the softly-softly approach by adding only another four runs in 72 minutes before he became the first of four catching victims of Canterbury wicketkeeper Michael Papps.

Vincent, resuming on 115, was more forthright although he, too, fell to Papps and the second new ball, when flicking at a legside delivery from Warren Wisneski.

Vincent batted for just over four hours for his 156, three short of his career best.

Paul Hitchcock underlined his value as a potentially useful batsman at first-class level with 45.

After his departure, captain Brooke Walker resisted for 88 minutes to reach nine before tailender Kerry Walmsley was undone by Chris Harris when losing his off stump.

* Northern Districts need something special to avoid an outright loss to Wellington in Hamilton today.

Northern Districts required another 125 runs to beat Wellington but have just three second-innings wickets in hand.

The home side reached stumps on the third day yesterday at 191 for seven in pursuit of 316, with captain Robbie Hart on 14 and Bruce Martin on six.

On an inconsistent Westpac Park pitch, the task confronting Northern Districts was always going to be hard but now it would take an incredible reversal.

Both sides have struggled to make runs on this pitch and the odds suggest Northern Districts will suffer their third outright loss in five games and stay bottom of the championship standings on two points.

* Central Districts cashed in on an excellent batting pitch in New Plymouth yesterday to set up a push for victory against Otago.

Central Districts raced to 291 for seven declared from 66 overs in their second innings, leaving Otago needing 433 to win.

By stumps, the southerners had advanced to 114 for three, but with two new batsmen at the crease when play resumes on the last day today.

- NZPA