Cricket: Auckland's dismal season keeps getting worse

Auckland's dismal season slumped further last night when Otago beat them by six wickets with a day to spare to take all the points in the State Championship game at Eden Park.

Auckland were dismissed for 216 in their second innings, leaving the southerners only 137 for the outright victory. Despite some early alarms, they got there for the loss of four wickets as the sun set.

For much of the morning it looked as if Otago would wrap up the game by teatime.

Auckland, 80 behind on the first innings, were 69 for five and 99 for six. But Tim Lythe, promoted to bat at number three when early wickets fell on Tuesday evening, stood firm while batsmen with greater reputations faltered.

He put on 70 with Tama Canning before Canning was caught in the covers for 51 and when he was finally out for 47 Auckland had reached 174.

Lythe was at the crease for 247 minutes, facing 192 balls with only four boundaries but a heap of courageous resistance.

It typified the determination of a 25-year-old who carries the scars of a battle with cancer in years past.

Otago relied heavily on the pace of Warren McSkimming and left-handers Bradley Scott and David Sewell on a day when the cloud cover seemed to come when Auckland batted and fade for the opposition.

Only Canning looked to dominate the attack before falling to a fine catch, one of several by the southerners. But Auckland were always struggling because of the shortage of runs from their specialist batsmen.

Tim McIntosh and Matt Horne managed three runs between them in four innings and in the second innings the four specialist batsmen totalled 27.

When Otago came out to chase the 137 required, Kyle Mills and Chris Martin removed Craig Cumming and Sean Eathorne cheaply and when Canning bowled first-innings hero Jonathan Trott, Auckland sniffed a chance.

But Jordan Sheed scored an aggressive 60 and Otago galloped home for the loss of only one more wicket.

The Aucklanders will have an extra day to practice before they take on the high-flying Wellingtonians at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

Canterbury v CD

Canterbury fought back to leave their match against Central Districts delicately poised with a day to play in Christchurch.

A century to Michael Papps at QEII Village Green and more resolute batting from Shanan Stewart took Canterbury to 244 for three in their second innings by stumps on the third day, giving them a 184-run lead.

Assuming no hiccups this morning, Canterbury captain Chris Harris is sure to declare in the early afternoon and set up a run chase to decide the third-round match.

Wellington v ND

Despite some blazing batting from wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan, Northern Districts face a mountainous task to survive the final day of their match against Wellington today.

Northern will start the final day 417 runs in arrear of the competition leaders at the Basin Reserve and with nine second innings wickets in hand.

Some more aggressive batting from the hosts on the third day yesterday kept them in control of a match dominated by the bat.

Northern resumed their first innings at 186 for six and took it to 312 for nine declared in remarkable style, with McGlashan racing from seven to an unbeaten 103. His 122-ball knock, which included four sixes, allowed the visitors to avoid the follow-on as they declared 136 runs behind.

He scored 96 of their 126 runs yesterday morning.

Any hopes Northern had of clawing back into the match were dispatched by the Wellington top order, who whisked the hosts to 303 for three declared off just 68 overs.

- additional reporting NZPA