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Auckland went on a record-breaking spree as they beat Northern Districts by 35 runs in a 50-over match at Eden Park yesterday.
The defending State Shield champions, relishing the chance to play on the main oval, amassed 341 for five, eclipsing their previous best of 318 for five set in the 2000-01 season. Northern battled bravely to 306 for 8 in reply.
Leading the way for Auckland were Rob Nicol and Richard Jones, who scored their first State Shield centuries while combining in a record third-wicket stand of 242 in 134 minutes. This beat the previous best of 129 by Jeff Crowe and Justin Vaughan against Otago in 1991-02.
It also eclipsed Auckland's best for any wicket of 171 scored by Graham Vivian and John Reid against Wellington 30 years ago.
Northern won the toss and gave Auckland first use of the wicket that was previously used for the New Zealand-Bangladesh game on Wednesday. It quickly became clear that the bowlers were in for some hard work.
Paul Hitchcock went cheaply but fellow opener Martin Guptill took full advantage of a missed slip catch when he was four to race to 44 off 38 balls with five fours and three sixes.
When he contrived to paddle a catch from the end of his bat to the leg-side field he had scored 40 of a 48-run partnership with Jones.
Auckland's momentum barely slackened as Jones and Nicol plundered bowling that offered too many boundary balls on a pitch where containment was usually the best option.
Nicol raced to his hundred off 102 balls and when he was caught in the deep off the persistent Graeme Aldridge for 135, he had hit 10 fours and six sixes, the biggest a mighty blow to the back of the top tier of the western stand.
Jones took longer over his 108 with 12 fours and it took a run out to dislodge the Auckland captain five runs after his partner with the score on 309.
Northern faced the daunting task of scoring at 6.92 runs an over and they never quite got on the pace. BJ Watling (64) and Daniel Flynn (41) took the battle to the Aucklanders early and Mark Orchard (57) and Bruce Martin (35) hit fiercely at the end.
Cruel luck cut off Watling in his prime when bowler Andre Adams deflected a drive by James Marshall on to the stumps to run him out as he backed up. Adams didn't take a wicket but he was the best of the Auckland bowlers, conceding only 40 runs off his 10 overs in a batsmen's paradise.
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WELLINGTON V CD
Stephen Fleming was clearly in hurry as his Wellington team stormed to a six-wicket win over Central Districts at the Basin Reserve.
Fleming sent a reminder of just how much he is missed at international one-day level as he struck 88 off 70 balls and, along with Neal Parlane's unbeaten 94, made Central's target of 256 seem inadequate.
The pair's positive approach - Parlane faced only 97 balls - ensured Wellington also snared a bonus point to go top of the table after the first round of matches.
Fleming, who will pad up for the test side against Bangladesh in Dunedin later this week, struck three sixes and 10 fours in a vibrant display of hitting.
West Indian Evon McInnis did all the early damage with the ball as the hosts were reduced to three for 53 before Fleming and Parlance rattled on 130 for the fourth wicket at better than a run a ball.
The rest of the Central attack had no answer as Wellington amassed 259 for four off 39.4 overs, with McInnis recording easily the best figures of three for 42 off nine overs.
Opener Geoff Barnett top-scored for the visitors with 75 but none of the middle order could carry on after making starts, meaning their innings lacked fluidity.
Greg Hay compiled 45 and captain Bevan Griggs a brisk 39 while opening bowler Iain O'Brien had the most miserly return for Wellington with one for 22 off eight overs.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NZPA
