Cricket: Auckland with work to remain on top

Tarun Nethula was the pick of the Auckland bowlers against former side Central Districts. Photo / Jason Dorday

Auckland have some work ahead of them after a day in the field at Eden Park today.

The Plunket Shield leaders chased the leather as Central Districts, responding to Auckland's 373 on day one, finished the second day of the seventh round clash on 404 for six.

It was an innings made up of several solid contributions.

Greg Hay and Mitch Renwick (71) put on 97 for the second wicket; George Worker and captain Will Young (85) added 58 for the fourth wicket; Young and Tom Bruce put on a further 76 for the fifth while Bruce (80) and Dane Cleaver (61 not out) topped things off with a stand of 93 for the sixth wicket.

The pitch is good and Auckland tried eight bowlers to get among the wickets. The most successful, by a distance, was legspinner Tarun Nethula, who toiled 30 overs for four for 127.

In Invercargill, bottom-place Otago are well positioned to take charge of their match against second-placed Canterbury.

Having made 351 in their first innings - Derek de Boorder moving to 69 to follow Neil Broom's 117 - Otago then rolled Canterbury for 180 just before stumps.

Take out Michael Davidson's 44 and 39 from Peter Fulton and it was a lean batting display from Canterbury.

The pick of the Otago attack was test offspinner Mark Craig, who finished with four for 40 off 23 overs.

Northern Districts poured on the runs after a rain-shortened opening day and declared at 438 for eight against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling went on to 77, while a 120-run seventh wicket stand btween Tim Seifert (60) and Scott Kuggeleijn, with an unbeaten 71, including eight fours and four sixes pressed home ND's advantage.

When he reached eight, Kuggeleijn passed 1000 first class runs. However Luke Woodcock more than matched that mark.

He starts day three tomorrow on 51, having exceeded 6000 first-class runs on 28. Wellington are 94 for two.