KEY POINTS:
Auckland have wrenched control of their State Championship cricket match against Otago but another concerted push will be needed to grab outright success today.
On an Eden Park outer oval wicket that continues to favour batting, Otago struggled to 132 for four by stumps on the third day, giving them an overall lead of 120.
Having already ceded first innings points to the hosts, Otago may have little option but to bat out the final day today.
Auckland will sense victory, having removed key pair Craig Cumming for 58 and Neil Broom for 47 before bad light stopped play nine overs early.
Captain Cumming's knock followed his 108 of the first innings but he fell to the bowling of legspinner Tarun Nethula when the third-wicket stand with Broom had tallied 100.
Broom exited one run later, the third out of four batsmen to tickle a catch to Auckland wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.
The Aucklanders earlier declared at 430 for eight, after passing Otago's first innings of 418.
Todd Astle came of age but was denied the chance to celebrate in the appropriate fashion as Canterbury's match against Northern Districts ended in a draw yesterday.
Astle struck his maiden first-class century as Canterbury threatened to secure their first points of the summer before a middle and lower order collapse at Hamilton's Seddon Park left them on 294 for eight with eight balls remaining when bad light stopped play. The 22-year-old right-handed opener hit 101, containing 16 fours and two sixes.
In Wellington, rain thwarted Central Districts who posted an imposing 523 in their only innings. The match petered out to a draw.
- NZPA
