KEY POINTS:
Auckland's batting is in a rich vein and more of the same will be the order of business against Canterbury at Rangiora today.
The defending State Shield champions are on a roll in the batting department.
They had a warm-up game against Bangladesh and hit 243 for three to win in 46 overs. On Sunday, Auckland thumped 341 for five off Northern Districts at Eden Park to win their opening-round game by 35 runs.
Martin Guptill got a good double from those games but captain Richard Jones made an unbeaten 85 against the Bangladeshis and 108 off 118 balls against ND, his maiden domestic ODI century.
In the latter innings, he shared a match-winning stand of 242 for the third wicket with Rob Nicol, who cracked 135 from only 118 balls, with 10 fours and six sixes. For 24-year-old Nicol, in his sixth year of first-class cricket, it was also his first ton in the one-day game. Neither player was especially productive in the four rounds of first-class cricket before Christmas and this was a welcome return to form.
Auckland have kept the same 12 for the trip to Rangiora and a Canterbury side chasing their first win over a narrow three-run loss to Otago in the first round.
In the other second round games, Northern Districts host Central Districts at Cobham Oval, Whangarei today, both looking for a first victory of the campaign, and Otago host Wellington at Molyneux Park, Alexandra tomorrow.
Points: Wellington 5, Auckland and Otago 4, Canterbury, ND, CD 0.
