Cricket: Cachopa ton aids Auckland

Auckland, who had won the toss, were 124 for five and 186 for eight before Cachopa shared the important partnership with Dean Bartlett. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Brad Cachopa's second century of the Plunket Shield domestic cricket season pulled leaders Auckland out of a potential jam against Canterbury at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

The wicketkeeper, batting at No7, hit an unbeaten 131 off 178 balls in just under four hours to push Auckland to 294. At stumps on the first day, Canterbury were four for none.

At various points, Auckland, who had won the toss, were 124 for five and 186 for eight before Cachopa shared the important partnership with Dean Bartlett. The pair put on 73, Bartlett staying long enough to get Cachopa to his hundred.

It's his second, and highest, first-class ton, the other coming a couple of weeks ago on the same ground against Northern Districts.

The Auckland scorecard had an odd look to it. Only opener Jeet Raval, with 41, Colin Munro with 69 off 59 balls and Donovan Grobbelaar with 26 also made double figures. Returning captain Rob Nicol went for one.

Central Districts are chasing 348 to beat ND at Cobham Oval in Whangarei. Promising batsman Will Young got his second first-class hundred, 132, and Tom Bruce hit 85 before CD declared at 300 for six, 74 behind ND. ND ran up 273 for eight declared - Brad Wilson and Daryl Mitchell both reaching the seventies - and today promises to be intriguing.

CD will start on 23 for one, George Worker being dismissed for the second time in the match for a duck by veteran seamer Graeme Aldridge.

At Queenstown, Stephen Murdoch's seventh first-class century was the highlight for Wellington as they reached 297.

At stumps, Otago were 162 for three with Jesse Ryder unbeaten on 52.