KEY POINTS:
Auckland opener Martin Guptill was the latest beneficiary of Eden Park outer oval's generous nature with a maiden first class century against Otago today.
Another high-scoring State Championship match is unfolding at the ground after the home side reached 288 for two by stumps on the second day in response to Otago's 418.
Guptill was unbeaten on 129, his first visit to three figures in 19 matches while Scott Styris had scooted to 70 at the other end.
It was a breakthrough for Guptill as the hard-hitting 22-year-old has previously been regarded as something of a limited-overs specialist.
In is his first first class match this summer he produced a sparkling five-hour knock, facing 256 balls and striking 21 fours and a six. His previous highest score was 99.
Styris was the aggressor in an unbroken 137-run stand, facing 94 balls..
The wickets to fall were Rhys Young for a lively 54 and captain Richard Jones for 18, both to right-arm seamer James McMillan whose figures were two for 40 off 12 overs. The other seven Otago bowlers used struggled for penetration on the flat deck.
Earlier Otago's innings was wrapped up inside 22 overs after they resumed at 350 for five.
Greg Todd, who reached 83 last night, fell painfully short of his fifth first-class ton. He chased a wide ball from Andy McKay on 98 which was snicked into the gloves of wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.
McKay and fellow-seamer Colin de Grandhomme both snared two wickets today. De Grandhomme finished with the best figures of three for 60.
The last five wickets fell for 34, a veritable crumbling on this friendly surface.
-NZPA
